Early heart failure care can extend life expectancy
5 minutes read
- 1 in 5 people over the age of 40 could develop heart failure at some point in their lives.1.
- Heart failure can be more dangerous than many types of cancer.2.
Santo Domingo, December 2019 – A healthy heart beats an average of 100,000 times a day3 and pumps around 4.5 litres of blood to every organ in the body.4 But it is important to remember that the heart is an organ that never stops working, and it can be damaged for many reasons, some so commonplace that we don’t associate them with the risk of harming this vital muscle. For example, a heart attack is what we consider the most serious, but factors such as high blood pressure, or others related to lifestyle5 such as a diet high in salt and fat, alcohol abuse or a sedentary life,1,6,7 are also risk factors that could affect how it works.
These kinds of situations can lead to heart failure, a disease in which the heart stops working properly. It happens when the heart becomes too weak or stiff to pump the blood the whole body needs.5
Without treatment, heart failure can be more dangerous than many types of cancer2, causing two to three times more deaths than advanced bowel or breast cancer8. “Despite the risk heart failure poses, awareness among the population is very low, especially because the symptoms of the disease are often confused with other conditions,” says cardiologist David Rodríguez, head of the Cardiovascular and Metabolism Therapeutic Area at Novartis Central America and the Caribbean.
According to the expert, the symptoms of the disease are fatigue or tiredness from everyday activities, shortness of breath, needing to sleep propped up, swelling of the lower limbs and sudden weight gain. These are the warning signs that should prompt you to see a doctor and mention these symptoms as soon as you start experiencing them, even if you only have some of them rather than all.
When you see the doctor, make sure you mention all your symptoms, because a productive appointment can make the difference between receiving the right treatment at the right time or not. To help, you can use a guide to get the most out of your appointment with the cardiologist9:
| BEFORE | DURING | AFTER |
Keep track of your symptoms and how often they occur:
|
Be open and honest about how you feel and tell the doctor about any symptoms or changes you have experienced.
|
Read the notes you took during the visit carefully and go over what you discussed with the doctor.
|
| If you have another condition, such as diabetes, note its symptoms and how it affects you. | Be very specific and use examples if necessary. | Follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter. |
| Keep a record of the tests you have had and the medicines you have been prescribed. | Ask the questions you prepared beforehand and, if you think it necessary, write down the doctor’s answers. | Talk to your family, friends or carers about the outcome of your appointment and the doctor’s recommendations. |
| Prepare some questions about concerns, doubts or advice you want to discuss with the doctor. | Book your next follow-up appointment if required. | Write the dates and times of your tests, next appointment or medication in a calendar so you don’t forget. |
Global impact
According to the American Heart Association, 1 in 5 people over the age of 40 could develop heart failure at some point in their lives,1 so appropriate, timely treatment of this condition allows them to live free of the main disabling symptoms, which often prevent patients from doing even the simplest everyday activities such as climbing stairs or walking their pets.
“Novartis is continually searching for the best and most innovative treatments so that patients can enjoy a full life, free of complications, with the symptoms of their disease under control. They are our reason for being, which is why we place such emphasis on prompt, appropriate care,” said Irene Arguedas, Head of Corporate Affairs at Novartis Central America and the Caribbean.
About Novartis
Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach more than 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 130,000 people of nearly 150 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. For more information, please visit www.novartis.com.
References
- Texas Heart Institute. Who is at greater risk of heart failure and what causes it? Available at: https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/insuficiencia-cardiaca/ (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- Fundación del Corazón. Heart failure prognosis. Available at: https://fundaciondelcorazon.com/informacion-para-pacientes/enfermedades-cardiovasculares/insuficiencia-cardiaca.html (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- National Geographic en español. Fact of the day. Available at: http://www.ngenespanol.com/el-mundo/dato-dia/17/07/05/-cuantos-latidos-da-el-corazon-en-un-dia–/ (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- The Cardio Research Web Project. Heart facts on animals (…and humans). Available at: http://www.cardio-research.com/quick-facts/animals (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- Hazlo Latir. About heart failure. https://www.hazlolatir.com/acerca-de-la-insuficiencia-cardiaca/ (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- Fundación Hospital de Jove. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE. https://www.hospitaldejove.com/archivos/descarga1127117176.pdf (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- Fundación Española del Corazón. Five tips if you have heart failure. https://fundaciondelcorazon.com/corazon-facil/blog-impulso-vital/2671-cinco-consejos-si-padece-una-insuficiencia-cardiaca.html (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- Hazlo Latir. The impact of heart failure. https://www.hazlolatir.com/acerca-de-la-insuficiencia-cardiaca/impacto-de-la-insuficiencia-cardiaca/ (Last accessed 3 April 2019)
- Novartis. Keep It Pumping. Talking to your doctor.