An Aching Heart
Chest or heart discomfort is a feeling that one usually worries or concerns However, chest pain happens for various reasons like stress, indigestion, muscle strain, and lung or heart problem. Differentiating between a serious and a non-serious heart ache is crucial to save one’s life. A serious condition such as congestive heart failure (CHF) requires immediate treatment and constant monitoring.

A trip to the hospital
In certain situations, an urgent 911 call is very important. Besides chest pain or heart ache, other signs and symptoms must also be considered. Chest pain may or may not be accompanied by other symptoms. Such symptoms include an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, severe weakness, and fainting are indications to seek immediate help. Even, coughing up white or pink mucus requires quick attention.
Disruption in pumping blood
CHF is a heart condition where the heart does not work efficiently and the pumping of blood is done poorly. This occurs due to the poor functionality of the heart muscle. When this happens, the return of blood is faster than pumping out, causing congestion. CHF signs or symptoms during the initial phase may or may not show but over time, the symptoms start appearing.
Changes to notice in your health
The signs and symptoms of CHF vary based on the stage of the disease. In the earlier phase, one may feel fatigued, weight gain, swelling of the lower limbs, and increased frequency of urination. In the later phase, one may experience chest pain, wheezing, breathing difficulty, irregular heartbeat, fainting, and bluish skin discoloration. If any of these signs appear, visit the emergency room as soon as possible.
At the hospital
The moment a patient is taken to the hospital, immediate treatment is given and vitals are monitored. The management of CHF or heart ache depends on the stage of the disease. Treatment includes many various types of CHF medications or in some cases, surgery such as angioplasty may be necessary.
Take precautions after a CHF
Following a healthy lifestyle is key to keeping one’s heart healthy and strong. Common healthy lifestyles include physical activity, weight control, a healthy diet, and quitting tobacco. Controlling one’s alcohol intake and avoiding harmful substances also make an impact. Speak to a nutritionist to help out with getting the right diet for the heart’s health. Additionally, monitoring one’s treatment program and going for appointments is imperative to ensure the heart is staying healthy.
Time to heal
A chest pain is not a symptom to overlook and requires a quick solution. Some chest pains are not serious but with CHF, the heart ache and accompanying symptoms require urgent treatment. The quicker CHF is treated, the better the prognosis, and keeping in mind continuous treatment and a healthy lifestyle.
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