28 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • MARCH 2, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM health So you have heart failure, now what? 7 tips for management Th e common misconception about having heart failure is that your heart immediately stops beating. Th e reality is that heart failure can be a slow process that happens over time. Being diagnosed with the disease Taking charge of your AFib: Getting the facts and knowing your options Being diagnosed with a chronic medical condition can be overwhelming. Patients and their doctors face a delicate balancing act to weigh the risks of a disease against the potential side eff ects and inconveniences of treatment. Th is is certainly true for patients with atrial fi brillation, better known as AFib, who have a signifi cantly increased risk for stroke due to a blood clot. Experts suggest and historic data confi rms that without treatment, AFib patients are fi ve times more likely to have a stroke than people without AFib. Commonly prescribed treatments such as oral anticoagulants or “blood thinners” have been shown to reduce the risk of an AFib-related stroke, but carry a risk of bleeding. Also some blood thinners may require lifestyle changes that could impact your daily routine. So what should patients know so that, in partnership with their doctors, they can make important AFib treatment decisions? “Th ere is a lot of information available online and in television advertisements, and trying to understand all of your options and their risks can be overwhelming,” says Dr. Rajat Deo, MD, MTR, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “Th ere are forms of treatment that may not be as good a fi t for you. Th at’s why it is important to work together with your doctor to understand your risks in the broader context of stroke prevention to determine what works best for you.” AFib is the most common type of arrhythmia, occurring when one or both of the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) don’t beat the way they should. Approximately 2.7 million people in the United States have AFib not caused by a heart valve problem (also known as NVAF), and this number is expected to increase as our population ages. AFibrelated strokes oft en cause long-term or permanent damage and some can be fatal. Stroke survivors may require help with daily tasks, such as eating and bathing, if they have lost the ability to move their arms or legs. Some stroke survivors also experience vision problems, memory loss or have diffi culty speaking. Physicians oft en prescribe oral anticoagulants to AFib patients to help interrupt the body’s process involved in forming clots in the blood, consequently reducing their risk of having a stroke. However, sometimes there are circumstances that require the anticoagulant eff ect to be reversed. When choosing an appropriate anticoagulant, doctors assess several factors, including blood pressure, liver function and previous stroke and bleeding history to determine the recommended treatment approach. When patients are considering diff erent options, knowledge of the effi cacy, side eff ects, and whether or not a reversal agent is available for their treatment option in case of an accident or rare emergency may be an important factor in helping them feel comfortable in starting treatment. “Everyone arrives at their treatment decision in a diff erent way,” Dr. Deo says. “It is important to be honest with your doctor when discussing lifestyle considerations and potential inconveniences to certain treatments. Balancing the risks and benefi ts is all about getting the facts. It is important to speak up, ask questions and feel comfortable talking to your doctor.” Your lifestyle and preferences are essential in choosing a treatment. Having open conversations with your doctors, so you can understand your condition and they can understand your lifestyle and priorities, can be empowering. Courtesy BPT can be overwhelming, but you are not alone. At least one person is diagnosed with heart failure every minute, according to WomenHeart: Th e National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. While there is no cure for the millions of women living with heart failure, it can be managed with the proper knowledge, treatment and support. “Successful treatment and management of heart failure must include interventions in the home, community and the doctor’s offi ce. Living with this disease can be a confusing and isolating experience. Th at’s why we must continue to improve the treatment approach to provide women with heart failure the important tools needed to feel empowered to face the disease each day,” says Mary McGowan, CEO of WomenHeart. Of those living with heart failure, half are women. More than 2.5 million women in the United States have heart failure, and they oft en face a very diff erent burden than men. Women tend to develop heart failure at an older age, suff er from depression more frequently and experience a greater number of symptoms than men, including shortness of breath, swelling around the ankles and diffi culty exercising. If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, there’s hope. Here are seven tips for managing the disease: • Find a doctor you trust. If needed, ask whether you should see a cardiologist who is specially trained to treat advanced heart failure. • Take your medications correctly. Make sure you understand why you are taking each medication and how and when to take each one. Newly adopted guidelines have expanded the list of recommended medications, so ask your doctor if these new treatments are right for your individualized treatment plan. • Make a daily plan for diet and exercise, and stick to it. Play an active role in your care and stay on track with your treatment plan. • Tune in to your body. Pay close attention to changes such as new symptoms or rapid weight gain. • Touch base with your emotions. Depression is common in women with heart failure. Don’t let your disease defi ne you. Find the support you need to live a fulfi lling and enjoyable life. WomenHeart has a support group for you, whether you prefer one-on-one, group settings or virtual options. • Know your limits. Stay active, but don’t overdo it. You might not be able to do everything you used to do. Pace yourself and save your energy for what matters most. • Don’t go it alone. Seek support. Be honest with your loved ones, and don’t be shy about asking for help. Educate yourself, ask questions and build a strong relationship with your doctor. For more information on heart failure, visit www.womenheart. org. Courtesy BPT
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