The German Heart Foundation has emphasised that adopting a healthy lifestyle can slow the progression of heart failure, ultimately enhancing patients’ quality of life.
Healthy Nutrition
Patients with heart failure should follow a diet designed to manage obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This means prioritising fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, and lean proteins, with a preference for fish over red meat.
Salt intake should also be limited to no more than 5 grams daily, per the World Health Organization’s recommendations, and sugar should also be minimised.
Regular Exercise
In addition to a healthy diet, regular physical activity is essential. This should involve muscle-strengthening exercises and endurance sports, such as Nordic walking, swimming, cycling, or rowing.
However, it’s important to maintain a moderate intensity to avoid overloading the heart.
Moreover, patients should consult their doctor before beginning an exercise regimen to receive guidance on suitable activities and recommended frequency.
Managing Psychological Stress
Heart failure often brings feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression. Managing psychological stress through relaxation techniques—like yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, breathing exercises, and listening to calming music—can be beneficial.
Heart failure weakens the heart’s ability to pump sufficient blood and oxygen throughout the body. Symptoms can include reduced physical endurance, fatigue, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and sleep apnea.
Causes of Heart Failure
Heart failure can result from coronary artery disease, congenital or acquired heart valve diseases (such as aortic stenosis or mitral valve insufficiency), arrhythmias (like atrial fibrillation), tissue diseases, high blood pressure, or inflammation of the heart muscle (such as cardiomyopathy or myocarditis).
The foundation concluded by stressing that a healthy lifestyle is built on nutritious eating, regular exercise and physical activity, as well as avoiding psychological stress.
