Heart failure makes it hard for your heart to keep up with your body’s needs, and thus you may start experiencing low endurance while exercising. The symptoms are mostly gradual, and if you don’t seek professional help, you may die from heart complications.
The good news is that physiotherapists can help you manage heart conditions, and you will feel better as time progresses. So what is heart failure, and what symptoms may show that you have heart failure? Read on for answers, plus how getting Physiotherapy in Singapore from professional therapists can help you deal with heart failure.
What is Heart Failure
As we mentioned above, heart failure occurs when your heart no longer meets the needs of your body, and thus it is not functioning as it should. In most cases, the heart fails to fill up with blood or pump blood to all the areas of your body.
This means that your body may not have the correct supply of oxygen and nutrients it needs for you to carry out your regular activities. You may be at risk of developing risk factors because of:
- Heart defects
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Certain types of chemotherapy
- Heart infections
Symptoms of Heart Failure
You may not notice you have heart failure until a health care provider detects an abnormal heartbeat or you get a heart attack. This is because heart failure is a silent disease, and thus you should look out for the symptoms below and seek professional help.
- Racing heart
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain and discomfort
- Pulmonary congestion
- Weight gain
- Edema
- Decreased exercise tolerance
Although one symptom on this list does not necessarily mean you have heart failure, if you observe most of these symptoms frequently, it is time to seek help.
How A Physiotherapist Can Help You
Physiotherapists are known for offering deep tissue massage, sports massage, and exercise plans. However, there are various ways that physiotherapists can assist people with heart failure.
1. Patient Education
Exercising is vital when you are recovering from heart failure. A therapist will create an exercise plan that suits your needs. They address the cause of heart failure, and thus your personalized exercise plan aims to solve those issues. They also work with other health care providers to educate you on how to improve your health.
2. Endurance
Heart failure makes you have a low exercise tolerance, and you may find it hard to breathe during various activities. That is why a physiotherapy expert will help you learn various ways of improving endurance and learning to breathe as you exercise.
3. Muscle Strengthening
Strengthening muscles is always part of physical training, and thus your therapist will determine effective yet safe exercises with your heart condition.
Conclusion
Knowing that you have heart failure can be devastating, but the good news is that it is not the end of life. It is crucial to work with your physiotherapist as they try to help you regain your health. Therefore do not disregard their instructions and if you need more information do not hesitate to ask them.
