What are the manifestations of heart failure? When the body experiences the following symptoms, it is necessary to be alert to heart failure. (1) Dyspnea: In heart failure, venous blood cannot fully flow back to the heart, and residual blood accumulates in the veins, leading to pulmonary congestion and decreased gas exchange capacity in the lungs, resulting in ischemia and hypoxia of tissues and organs, manifested as dyspnea. (2) Fatigue and decreased exercise ability: During heart failure, the energy substances and blood oxygen levels in the body's organs and tissues decrease, and muscles cannot obtain the required energy, resulting in an imbalance between supply and demand. Even daily activities such as climbing stairs, walking, shopping, or showering may make heart failure patients feel exhausted. (3) Edema: When heart failure occurs, due to the obstruction of venous blood return, blood accumulates in the veins, resulting in edema. Edema is more common in the feet and lower limbs, and occurs in the waist, back, and other areas when lying down. Pressing can cause depression, and severe patients may experience facial and systemic edema. Lower limb edema occurs more frequently or worsens in the evening, and can be relieved or disappear after resting overnight. (4) Cough and expectoration: patients with heart failure often cough, cough white sticky sputum or foam sputum due to pulmonary congestion, and in severe cases, cough pink foam sputum or blood sputum. (5) Other: Patients with heart failure may also present with non-specific symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal distension, liver pain, insomnia, and palpitations. Severe cases may also experience symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, blackening of the eyes, loss of consciousness, and convulsions. What should be done when there are symptoms? When elderly people experience shortness of breath, edema, fatigue, and other symptoms, they should pay attention to whether there is an aggravation of underlying diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease. They need to go to the hospital as soon as possible to see a doctor, and determine whether heart failure has occurred through examinations such as electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, natriuretic peptide level testing, and echocardiography (preferred). At the same time, it is necessary to conduct an assessment of age-related syndromes, actively prevent triggering factors of heart failure, avoid aggravating causes and comorbidities, and finally develop a long-term and reasonable treatment plan with regular follow-up. How to prevent heart failure (1) A healthy lifestyle, such as regular living, appropriate exercise, healthy diet, smoking and alcohol restrictions, maintaining a good mentality, and actively participating in various beneficial social activities, are all important basic health care. (2) Correction of cardiovascular disease risk factors: for cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, it is necessary to find, treat and reach the standard as soon as possible. Regular outpatient follow-up, with individualized treatment adjustments made by doctors based on the patient's recent condition, usually at least once a month. If these factors are well controlled, they can delay the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. (3) Actively treating underlying heart diseases and preventing heart failure: Those who already suffer from underlying diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that cause heart failure need to be actively treated. At the same time, self-management should be strengthened, with a light diet, consuming more fresh vegetables, fruits, and proteins, and controlling salt intake. Engage in appropriate physical activity; Quit smoking and drinking; Maintain a balanced mindset and positive emotions, while also ensuring adequate sleep. Misunderstanding interpretation: As long as one pays attention to preventing colds in daily life, heart failure will not occur. It is generally believed that patients with underlying heart diseases may be affected by factors that increase heart load, which may trigger heart failure. Common inducements include: infection of upper respiratory tract (the most common), acute angina attack, tachyarrhythmia/bradyarrhythmia, blood pressure fluctuation, excessive sodium salt intake, too fast and/or too much transfusion and blood transfusion, emotional excitement, and some drugs that affect myocardial contractility and cause water and sodium retention can induce heart failure. Therefore, in daily life, preventing colds is only one important aspect of preventing heart failure, and attention should also be paid to other aspects of prevention. (New Society)