| Congestive heart disease occurs when the heart | | | | legs is often seen. |
| is unable to pump enough blood to satisfy the | | | | As the heart tries to compensate a number of |
| bodies need for oxygen. The causes of | | | | changes may start to occur in the body. |
| congestive heart disease fall under four major | | | | According to American Medical Association here is |
| categories: a weakening of the heart muscle, | | | | what you can expect if this condition goes |
| diseases such as atherosclerosis that reduce blood | | | | untreated or progresses despite treatment. |
| flow to the heart, diseases that cause the heart | | | | First, the walls of the heart muscle may thicken |
| muscle to become less flexible, or disease that | | | | and then enlarge as the heart dilates in an |
| increase oxygen demand by the body tissue | | | | attempt to increase its pumping capacity. The |
| beyond the capability of the heart to deliver. We | | | | heartbeat may become abnormally fast, again in |
| will not go into each one of these at length rather | | | | an attempt to increasing the pumping volume of |
| opting to attack this complicated subject from a | | | | the heart. The ventricles (lower chambers) may |
| slightly broader point of view due to time | | | | lose their ability to pump from being continually |
| constraints. | | | | overwork. In response to reduced output of the |
| As with many condition involving the heart and | | | | heart, the kidneys may retain water and salt, |
| arteries congestive heart disease tends to start | | | | worsening fluid buildup, and potentially leading to |
| slow and only produce subtle symptoms that | | | | kidney failure. |
| may go unnoticed, or be so subtle that they are | | | | Once the causes of congestive heart disease |
| ignored. One important point to consider with | | | | have been identified what lifestyle modification |
| congestive heart disease is that the heart | | | | may be suggested by my doctor? |
| naturally weakens with age losing half of its | | | | There is a long list of possible suggestions your |
| pumping capacity by the time a person reaches | | | | doctor may put forward as a part of a bigger |
| the age of 80. So the combination of a naturally | | | | treatment plan. Let's look at a nine of these. |
| weakening heart combined with the with the | | | | They are quitting smoking and/or avoiding second |
| potential for other age related health problems | | | | hand smoke, reducing alcohol consumption or |
| such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood | | | | limited it to one glass of red wine with dinner, |
| pressure can create a dangerous mixture of | | | | reducing salt intake to 2 grams or less per day, |
| conditions which ultimately could lead to | | | | keeping body weight in a healthy range, eating a |
| congestive heart disease. | | | | diet low in saturated fat, limiting total fat |
| This condition can impact the left side of the | | | | consumption to under 25 percent of total calories, |
| heart which is responsible for pumping blood into | | | | avoiding excess fluid intake, resting regularly during |
| the body; the right side of the heart which pumps | | | | the day, and a carefully thought out exercise |
| blood into the lungs; or in some instances both | | | | program put together with your doctor's help. |
| sides. Usually the disease begin in the left side of | | | | What else? Along with these nine steps a |
| the heart first, and then over times advances to | | | | prescription diuretic may be prescribed. Doctors |
| the right side. Left sided congestive heart disease | | | | specializing in naturopathic medicine may suggest a |
| symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, labored | | | | herbal diuretic and/or a natural cholesterol |
| breathing, and sometimes lung congestion. If the | | | | reduction supplement, along with the nine lifestyle |
| disease is concentrated in the right side fluid | | | | modification techniques listed above. |
| buildup in the veins and swelling in the feet and | | | | |