With more than 6 million Americans diagnosed with the condition, it’s time we all learned a little bit more.
What do you know about heart failure?
It’s estimated that in an average lifetime, your heart will beat more than three billion beats. But like any other muscle in our bodies, a heart can weaken. That’s why it’s so important to understand the medical conditions that determine a weakened heart: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), and more specifically, chronic heart failure. Although related, these two conditions are not the same. In the U.S., more than 6 million people are currently living with the condition. There’s a lot we understand about heart failure, its symptoms, and treatments. But how much do you know? Take our quiz and learn more.
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Cardiovascular disease is a bacterial infection that causes illness, while heart failure is the heart simply running out of beats.
What is the difference between cardiovascular disease and chronic heart failure?
Heart failure is a type of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is a term that acts as a category to describe many different heart conditions, including cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
Cardiovascular disease is hereditary, while chronic heart failure is caused by lifestyle factors.
B.
A.
C.
Click your chosen answer
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Question 1
Answer: B
Heart failure is indeed a type of cardiovascular disease — which can be affected by other types of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, heart attack, congenital heart disease, and peripheral artery disease. Each of these conditions has its own individual risk factors and treatments, but can influence the development of another condition.
Next
Answer 1
False
TRUE or FALSE? Chronic heart failure can be cured.
True
Question 2
Answer: False
There is no cure for chronic heart failure. But the good news is that a combination of prescription medications and lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of death and help those with heart failure avoid hospitalizations.
Answer 2
When the heart is weak, it cannot pump enough blood to reach the lungs, so they are unable to fully function — creating breathing difficulties.
Why do patients experience shortness of breath as a symptom of heart failure?
When the heart is unable to pump blood properly, fluids can be trapped in the lungs and create buildup that impedes normal breathing.
Often, those with heart failure have extremely high heart rates, which makes it difficult to breathe.
Question 3
Those with heart failure experience shortness of breath because of fluid buildup in the lungs. Along with shortness of breath, other early warning signs and symptoms of chronic heart failure include rapid heart rate, persistent coughing, rapid weight gain of up to three pounds in a day, confusion, fatigue and decreased appetite or nausea. Many symptoms of heart failure often go ignored. So, if you are experiencing shortness of breath or any other symptoms, don’t write them off and do not attempt to self-diagnose. Please visit your doctor or cardiologist and tell them the symptoms you are having.
Answer 3
A cardiac surgery conducted to help re-strengthen the muscle walls of the heart.
What is ejection fraction?
A measurement of how well your heart is performing.
An equation used to determine your risk for developing heart failure.
Question 4
By the American Heart Association’s definition, ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement, expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. This measurement is one of many that can determine how well your heart is performing and can be used to help diagnose and monitor heart failure. A normal ejection fraction is usually between 50-70%.
Answer 4
A normal physical examination
Which tests confirm a diagnosis of chronic heart failure?
Radiographs (x-rays)
Open-heart surgery
D.
Blood test
E.
Echocardiogram
Check all that apply
Question 5
Answer: A, B, D, E
Often, diagnosing chronic heart failure begins with a normal physical examination where your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs to detect abnormal sounds that indicate fluid buildup or heart murmurs. After that, your doctor may order or conduct additional, non-invasive tests such as x-rays of your heart and lungs, blood tests, echocardiograms, stress tests, cardiac CT scans, MRI scans, coronary angiograms, and/or positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Separately or together, these tests comprehensively assess the health of your heart muscle, the thickness of your heart walls, and its ability to pump blood effectively.
Answer 5
TRUE or FALSE? Lifestyle choices can be considered part of the treatment plan for heart failure, along with medications, and can have an impact on managing chronic heart failure.
Question 6
Answer: True
Many lifestyle factors affect your risk of developing chronic heart failure. However, changing those lifestyle factors may help manage the condition if you are diagnosed.
Answer 6
Which of the following lifestyle choices may help manage heart failure once diagnosed?
Smoking cessation
Maintain a healthy weight for your body
Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and naturally low-fat foods
Adhering to a low-sodium diet
Question 7
Answer: A, B, C, D
That’s right, each one of these lifestyle choices may make a positive impact on your overall health and may help manage chronic heart failure. Other changes to lifestyle include limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a physician-approved exercise plan, and making additional physician-approved dietary changes. Consult with your doctor for a lifestyle plan that is optimal for you.
Answer 7
Often, those diagnosed with heart failure need more sodium per day than the average recommended daily intake to ensure they do not become hyponatremic (a condition where sodium levels in the blood are too low).
Why is monitoring sodium intake important for those living with heart failure?
Often, those diagnosed with heart failure are advised to consume less sodium per day than the average recommended intake to try to avoid a build-up of fluid in their body.
Drinking fluids and increasing sodium intake helps liquidate medications that help treat heart failure, making them more accessible in the bloodstream.
Question 8
Sodium levels can contribute to fluid buildup, a complication that exacerbates heart failure symptoms and can increase your risk of hospitalization, as excess fluid makes it even harder for a heart that is not operating at its full capacity to pump blood. That’s why your doctor may give you guidance on a reduced plan for sodium intake — as well as fluid intake — that is below the average intake levels of those who do not have heart failure. Always talk to your doctor about what the best exercise, diet, and lifestyle plans are for your particular case.
Answer 8
TRUE or FALSE? Of the approximately 6 million Americans living with chronic heart failure, approximately 5 million may be appropriate candidates for a specific medication that contains two active ingredients that help reduce the risk of death and hospitalization for heart failure.
Question 9
ENTRESTO contains the 2 active ingredients sacubitril and valsartan. Sacubitril can only be found in ENTRESTO. Studies have shown that ENTRESTO may be a suitable treatment option for as many as 5 million Americans living with heart failure. ENTRESTO works better when the heart cannot pump a normal amount of blood to the body. ENTRESTO is not for everybody, including those who are or plan to become pregnant. Click here for full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING, and see below for Important Safety Information.
Answer 9
One drug strengthens muscle tissue while the other thins blood, making it easier for the heart to pump blood efficiently.
How can the drug valsartan work together with the drug sacubitril to treat chronic heart failure?
One drug relaxes the heart muscles, while the other increases red blood cells, allowing blood to flow more freely from one chamber of the heart to the other.
Both cause blood vessels to widen, increasing blood flow and reducing sodium and fluid.
Question 10
Answer: C
Both valsartan (an angiotensin II receptor antagonist) and sacubitril (a neprilysin inhibitor drug) cause blood vessels throughout the body to widen, increasing blood flow and reducing sodium and fluid. ENTRESTO is the only FDA approved medicine of its kind. It is currently the number one heart failure brand prescribed by cardiologists and has helped over one million people with heart failure. Talk to your doctor about whether ENTRESTO might be right for you, and about how you can manage your chronic heart failure. ENTRESTO is not for everybody, including those who are or plan to become pregnant. Go to ENTRESTO.com to find more information about managing long-lasting heart failure. Click here for full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING, and see below for Important Safety Information.
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Answer 10
