Cardiovascular

Heart Failure is a disease in which the heart cannot efficiently pump blood into the lungs and other tissues. Therefore, the oxygen necessary for the normal functioning of the body is not obtained. In heart failure, the most frequent signs and symptoms can be: fluid retention in the legs and feet, and breathlessness. The heart fails to pump blood to the whole body, causing a drop in blood pressure, lowering the blood supply of vital organs, and losing strength and weight. There are many causes of heart failure, within which are coronary artery disease, heart valve diseases, hypertension and diabetes.

(Hypercholesterolaemia)

High blood cholesterol is when the normal soft, fatty substance in your blood becomes elevated. If the amounts of cholesterol in the blood are too high, they can build up in the arteries, and can lead to coronary heart disease like a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Patients living with heart failure are up against startling statistics. Heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump blood efficiently around the body, and approximately 50% of patients will die within 5 years of diagnosis. The disease remains as deadly as some of the most common types of cancer in both men (prostate and bladder cancer) and women (breast cancer).

Heart failure is often complicated by having to manage interrelated diseases like Type 2 diabetes.

Most heart diseases can be prevented by simply living a healthy lifestyle and treating the interlinked conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and managing blood cholesterol. Healthy lifestyle changes include a healthy diet, regular exercise, controlling weight, stopping smoking, managing stress and limiting alcohol consumption. Small changes can be good for your heart. Read more on how to improve your cardiovascular health through lifestyle.