Heart failure: Avoiding triggers for sudden heart failure
Why is it important to avoid triggers for heart failure?
Triggers upset the delicate balance in your body, making it even harder for your heart to pump effectively. When your heart suddenly cannot pump the blood that your body needs, symptoms of sudden heart failure develop.
Triggers lead to sudden heart failure in different ways.
Why does sodium (salt) trigger sudden heart failure?
After eating salty foods, you probably notice that you are thirsty and want to drink extra liquids. Sodium is a major component of salt and will cause your body to hold onto (retain) fluid even if you don't drink more liquids. This extra fluid causes your heart to work harder than normal to circulate the extra blood volume throughout your body.
Why does overexercising trigger sudden heart failure?
Moderate, regular exercise is very good for you and your heart. It improves your circulation and helps you control your weight. However, if you overexercise to the point that you become out of breath, have chest pain, or become dizzy, you may be doing more harm than good. Overexercise increases your heart's workload and can reduce its ability to pump effectively.
Why does taking medicines incorrectly trigger sudden heart failure?
Your medications help maintain a delicate balance between the amount of fluid in your body and the ability of your heart to effectively pump blood. If you delay or miss doses of your medicines, it can affect this balance. Also, let your health professional know about any nonprescription medicines or natural supplements you take, because they might contain sodium or make your prescription drugs work less effectively.
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Triggers can lead to an emergency situation because your heart cannot effectively pump blood to your body.
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How can I avoid triggers for sudden heart failure?
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: September 1, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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