Online Education Session on Heart Failure
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Frequently Asked Questions about Heart Failure
Following our recent webinar, we received numerous questions regarding heart failure. To assist you further, we have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions.
Why Do I Feel So Tired?
Heart failure is a syndrome that impacts the entire body, not just the heart. During a heart failure episode, your body enters crisis mode, redirecting blood from less critical areas, such as the muscles in your arms and legs, to vital organs like the heart and brain. After recovering from an initial episode, your arteries may not respond as well, leaving you with diminished energy levels. Consequently, daily activities become more strenuous, leading to increased fatigue.
Why Do My Muscles Feel Fatigued During Activity?
Fatigue during activity can stem from vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of arteries that limits blood flow to certain body areas, including your arms and legs. Additionally, individuals with heart failure often have a higher proportion of sprint fibers in their muscles. These fibers activate quickly but tire just as fast, which means you may be able to perform an activity briefly before feeling exhausted.
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Why Am I More Breathless Than Expected During Activity?
If you experience unexpected breathlessness without fluid retention, this can be explained by the body’s ergo reflex, which responds to increased waste products. As these products accumulate, this reflex prompts your breathing center to increase your respiratory rate during physical activity to expel carbon dioxide. With more sprint fibers in your muscles, waste products build up quickly. Strengthening your muscles can help reduce this waste and subsequently decrease breathlessness.
How Can I Explain My Level of Tiredness to Others?
Conveying the depth of tiredness associated with heart failure can be challenging for those who haven’t experienced it. You might liken it to the feeling of hitting a wall at the 21st mile of a marathon—an overwhelming exhaustion that is hard to shake off. While your family may struggle to fully comprehend your fatigue, providing this perspective can help them understand your experience better.
What Can I Do to Help Myself?
Managing heart failure involves a combination of medical treatment and exercise training. Start by increasing your general activity levels at home to boost your step count. Incorporating strength training into your routine is also beneficial. We have created a short video demonstrating exercises you can perform at home, recommending 10 repetitions of each exercise, three times daily, five days a week.
Useful Exercises
Once you maintain a step count of 5,000 or more, you can initiate 10-minute walking sessions, gradually extending them to 30 minutes by adding five minutes each week.
Should I Consider Cardiac Rehab?
For specialized guidance, consult your cardiac physiotherapist.
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