How do we define heart failure? Am I correct to say that it does not refer to an absolute state but more to the degree of inefficiency of the heart in performing its function? Is it true that when a person has heart failure, it doesn't mean that his/her heart is going to stop beating soon, and that death is imminent?
A cousin of mine has had chronic atrial fibrillation since 3 months ago.
I'm going to guess it depends on the individual and what other changes need to be made. Weight may need to come down, increase exercise, reduce sodium in the diet.
I'm on Diltiazem 120, a slow release so I only take it once a day. Haven't seen much change in my BP. Maybe 5 pts. in my readings at home. But it does help a little with my arrhythmias, has stopped the chest pains and helps with my Raynauds.
The BNP was 608 before conversion and immediately went down to 200 after conversion. I realize this is considered heart failure. I am now on Flecainide and Diltiazem and have been AFib free for over 2 months. Have been on Eliquis for a couple of years now. My question is was this "acute" heart failure or once you have it do you always have it? In other words was it just because of the AFib episode or will I have heart failure the rest of my life? This is so scary.
Prolonged standing
Long airplane flights or automobile rides
Menstrual periods (for some women)
Pregnancy -- excessive swelling may be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious condition sometimes called toxemia, which includes high blood pressure and swelling
Being overweight
Increased age
Injury or trauma to your ankle or foot
Swollen legs may be a sign of heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure. In these conditions, there is too much fluid in the body.
It decreases or slows conduction through the AV node, and reduces the contractility of the heart, so it could be inappropriate in cases of heart failure. I believe that Diltiazem works on the reentrant type of SVT called AVNRT. To me that another way of saying that it does not work on accessory path SVT's, like atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT).
Here are possible side effects....
http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineSideEffects.aspx?
If the EF is below 29%, it is considered in the heart failure range...meaning the supply of blood/oxygen is probably less than the demand and the heart (left ventricle) will enlarge in an attempt to meet the demand and eventually contractions will become even weaker and there will be congested heart failure (blood backs up into the lungs causing congestion (edema)).
Like noheart4me said, there is no simple answer and everyone is different. Heart failure can be acute or chronic. My Dad, who is now 84, was diagnosed with heart failure about 3 years ago. He had heart surgery in July 2008 and today is doing well heart-wise and is able to walk and even go dancing.
How is your Mom's doctor? Does he/she listen well to your questions and concerns and explain things so you both of you understand? If not, my advice would be to get a new doctor.
Can't help you with the sex life part, as I'm a female, but I can share my experience switching from a beta blocker to diltiazem. I have been taking beta blockers for 8 years for SVT and afib. I had an episode of afib and was in the hospital is Sept. They took me off the beta blocker and put me on diltiazem. It didn't control my heart rate like the beta blocker. My resting heart rate went from upper 60s to the low 80s.
There is usually a history of excessive alcohol intake. Symptoms of heart failure are most common and include shortness of breath with activity or after lying down for a while, swelling of feet and ankles, irregular or rapid pulse, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite and even cough. These develop slowly over time. Treatment for alcoholic cardiomyopathy is stopping alcohol intake and treating the heart failure present.
Beta blockers is a proven medication that improves survival in those who have suffered a heart attack, have coronary artery disesase, or heart failure. If there are indications for this, then it is usually a good idea to be on one. There is no absolute value of heart rate that is too low but the general rule that is accepted is you are symptomatic, then the dose should be decreased.
Increasing the amlodipine to 10 mg is not a bad idea as you still have room to go up on it.
I have been diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome. I was on diltiazem xt 120mg. I stopped taking the medicine 12 days ago could it still be in my system and be causing slow heart rate 40-45 during th day.
When my hemolytic anemia initially set in, before my Procrit perscription came thru, I did have a racing heart, and was aware of my heart beating fast and hard, a few times. This happened when my HGB was around 9.3
I am wondering what level your husbands' HGB was at. Make sure you
two talk with his Gastro, asap, about your concerns with the new meds, and I would go with his opinion, about wether these meds are neccesary.
A related discussion, <a href='/posts/show/738624'>Improving EF</a> was started.
I was on tiazac 360mg for a couple of years for high blood pressure.I started having palpitations, skipped beats. The longer I was on it the worse it got. It finally got to where I was having some beats so strong and violent.I told my cardiologist and asked to change medication or a lower dose.He told me to go back to my family doctor who prescribed it originally. As it was 6 weeks to see him, I decided to stop the tiazac. After a few days the symptoms went away.
I'm not talking about what it "feels" like. I'm reading what the meters tell me, both at home and at my doctor's office. My low pulse rate started in mid-Sept. of 2015. Yet the Holter analysis was said to be abnormal, yet asymptomatic. ??????
I take Metoprolol for a thick heart muscel & pvc, which it doesn't help much with the pvc's, Diltiazem was just added 120mg once a day. My doctor seemed somewhat reluctant to add the Diltiazem but said lets try it. My Blood pressure has been around 155/95. His reluctance just seems to scare me. Should I try it or should I not? If I do start taking it should I take it with the metoprolol or at different times?
First time, adenosine failed twice to bring down 180+ pulse. Diltiazem given, and worked. Sent home with extended-release 120mg diltiazem. Experienced breakthrough arrhythmias and eventual return to tachycardia 170bpm that lasted 8 hours before heading to the ER again. Given fast-acting diltiazem 60mg, which seems to be working so far, although I'm still experiencing arrhythmias. Cardiologist preliminarily diagnosed AVNRT and recommended ablation asap.
I have had 2 failed heart ablations -2008. I am taking 2 meds to control "fast heart rate" Flecinide 50mgs bid and Sotalol 40mgs bid. Have severe chest tightness or a feeling of pressure on my chest, Is due to the failed heart ablations or the meds I am taking. My weight is 115 pounds. My initial diagnoses was Atrial tachycardia.
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