How to prevent heart failure? Answers from Pr Jean-Marie Damorou, Cardiologist
- Posted on 10/03/2023 10:52
- Film
- By abelozih@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: Heart failure is when the heart becomes incapable of providing the body, i.e. the organs and cells, with the quantity of blood necessary for their proper functioning. It is the difficulty for the heart pump, and more broadly for the cardio-circulator
Heart
failure is when the heart becomes incapable of providing the body, i.e. the
organs and cells, with the quantity of blood necessary for their proper
functioning. It is the difficulty for the heart pump, and more broadly for the
cardio-circulatory system, to adapt in terms of flow and pressure. In Togo,
hospital figures at the CHU show that 25 out of every 100 patients hospitalised
have heart failure. This is serious. It is a major public health issue.
The
first complication is sudden death. When the amount of blood is insufficient,
the heart goes into overdrive. The patient develops clots in the legs which can
lead to pulmonary embolism. To prevent heart failure, eat less fat, sugar and
salt. Practice aerobic physical activity. Do exercises that allow you to
oxygenate. Everyone should walk for at least 30 minutes a day. This is a
medicine. You can swim and jog.
You
should avoid smoking, drugs and alcohol. Sleep well at least 8 hours a day,
manage emotions, especially stress. We
must eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, eat healthy, varied and balanced food.
It is possible to have a normal life when you have heart failure, by respecting
a certain number of constraints: compliance with the medication, respect for
dietary rules and physical exercise. The patient must be disciplined and follow
all the doctor's prescriptions to live for a long time.
Heart
failure is serious but preventable. People need to be warned and educated about
heart failure. It is such a deadly disease and patients are not always aware of
this. The prevalence in university hospitals is very high. Sometimes patients don't necessarily seem to
be worried and are not aware of the danger of heart failure.
Interview by William O.
