The four essential steps, that I've taken, that help me live with Heart Failure
I am near 70 and have had Congestive Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Chronic Tachycardia, Chronically High Blood Pressure, Immune System Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, Pre-Diabetes and Asthma for over twenty years.
I have learned four essential steps for lowering my blood pressure down to very healthy levels, reducing my heart rhythm problems, improving my heart failure, improving my Immune System/Neurohormonal System problems, and at the same time improving my general health. These four essential steps could also provide significant improvements to immune disorders, such as Multiple sclerosis (MS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia.
I have no medical training or education, so I don't know how much these four essential steps would help others, but I'll document them here anyway.
The four essential steps are:
Being on a healthy diet.
In my opinion, the overall healthiest diet, especially for those with chronic disease(s), consists of frequent, small portion, high fiber, low calorie, balanced meals, based on the Glycemic Index.
Because of the profound improvement in my health, I intend to stay on this small, frequent, high fiber diet the rest of my life. I love it!
Finding out, and avoiding, the things (triggers) that cause over-activation of the Immune System and the NeuroHormonal System.
Heart Failure, and other heart problems, result in over-active Hormonal Systems, which is the body's attempt to increase the pumping ability of the heart by pouring out excess "helpful" hormones.
There are also things that trigger either the Immune System or the Neurohormonal System to cause even additional hormones and other body chemicals to be produced, causing unhealthy stress to our systems, and resulting in a worsening of heart failure, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and many other health problems, such as immune systems disorders like MS, CFS and Fibromyalgia. Who would have thought that a curative impact on all these diseases would be as simple, easy and inexpensive, as understanding and avoiding the things that trigger these diseases to get progressively worse!?
The "helpful" chemicals, hormones and cytokines, are not so helpful when they are over-produced and are constantly circulating in the body. The over-production of these body chemicals need to be blocked or inhibited through either medications, avoiding the "triggers", or both.
The over-production and over-circulation of hormones, cytokines, etc., can cause damage to organs, glands, joints and nerves, and make you feel sick as a dog, with fatigue, anxiety, mental confusion, headaches, etc..
Medicines, like Ace Inhibitors, Calcium Channel Blockers, Beta Blockers, Renin Blockers all attempt to block, or inhibit, the overproduction of hormones, and to block or inhibit inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) and Interleukin-6 (IL). These inflammatory cytokines are additionally produced by the body to counteract the over-production of Hormones, but these inflammatory cytokines can be very damaging, and are what causes worsening Heart Failure and worsens other health problems.
The more "triggers" of the Immune System, or the NeuroHormonal System, that can be avoided, the less medication that is required. Make sense? For instance, if you can avoid triggers that cause even more over-activation of the adrenal glands, you might thusly require lower dosages of medication that attempt to block the Adrenal Glands, like Beta Blockers.
The triggers that cause an over-active NeuroHormonal System and the triggers that cause an over-active immune system can be the same triggers or completely different triggers.
Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Exercise is important, but until my health got better through proper diet and avoiding triggers that cause Heart Failure to get progressively worse, I could only do very limited exercise. Very slowly and gradually I was able to increase physical activity and exercise. Many times I would overdo it and suffer from difficult breathing, chest pains, over-sweating, increased heart rhythm problems and fatigue.
My current exercise schedule, spread throughout the day, is about fifty pushups a day, 300 lifts with 10 pound weights per day per arm, 450 steps per day, per leg, on my stepper; and power walking one hour per day in two 30 minute sessions. Not bad for a elderly guy suffering from Heart Failure for over 20 years, huh?
One benefit that I didn't expect to see is a significant improvement in my varicose veins. Who'd of thunk!
Taking the correct meds on the correct schedule.
Finding out which medicines work best, and when is the best time to take them, is complex and extremely difficult. I've taken, and suffered with, many different heart/blood pressure medications before I figured out what works best for me.
To be on the most effective medications, for your unique health problems, you must be in the care of an effective, skilled, caring medical professional. If you are not getting, or feeling better, you should question the ability and effectiveness of your health professional(s).
I currently take 12.5mg Coreg twice a day; .25mg Digoxin once a day; Warfarin 2.5mg once a day, Flovent and Flonase. You have to admit, that is a very low level of medication for treating all of my chronic diseases.
Note 3/30/2009: I Love Coreg!!!
Heart Failure is a progressive disease. That means that it usually gets worse with time, not better. I was limited prior to age 60, but I felt that I was holding my own. Entering my 60's, my health got much worse, with worsening fatigue and weakness, constant chest pains, mental confusion and constant problems breathing, especially when lying down. I was forced to sleep sitting up to limit my breathing and heart rhythm problems.
Now..... close to my 70's, my health is quite good, although I am still limited by my disease(s). My heart is damaged, and while improved, my heart will always be compromised. The most important lesson, I've learned, has been that, even during one's 60's, heart failure does not necessarily have to lead to death and morbidity.
When my symptoms worsened, back in 1998, I started taking my blood pressure many times per day. It wasn't until 2004, when I incorporated all four essential steps, that my blood pressure, and health, started the long journey back towards better health. I started documenting my journey, right here on HealthBoards, in January 2005 on a thread, I called, Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure? The link to that thread is: [url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229[/url] At that time, I did not really know if I would continue to improve, or continue to get worsening heart failure.
These were my annual "average" blood pressure readings from 1998 through 2008.
1998: 152/97, readings=1016; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 15 and Diastolic of 9
An average of 152/97 for the ENTIRE YEAR! Is it any wonder why I was getting worse!?
1999 : 146/92, readings=3599; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 14 and Diastolic of 9
An average of 146/92, each and every day, for the entire year. Better than 1998, but still a serious health problem!
2000 : 145/92, readings=3322; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 8
2001 : 147/92, readings=2375; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
2002 : 150/96, readings=1423; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 13 and Diastolic of 8
2003 : 151/96, readings=1032; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 13 and Diastolic of 8
2004 : 146/90, readings=2065; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 14 and Diastolic of 8
2005 : 139/86, readings=2526; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 8
2006 : 136/79, readings=3269; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
2007 : 126/74, readings=2720; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
An average of 126/74 for the entire year. There is hope that I can survive these nasty diseases!
2008 : 122/72, readings=2543; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
My Cholesterol Numbers are also great, without ever having to take statins!
Total Cholesterol: around 160
HDL: around 60
LDL: around 90
Trig: around 60
Ratio: < 3
As long as I adhere to the four essential steps, I don't have to worry about my blood pressure or worsening heart failure or heart rhythm problems, etc.
The solution, and steps, one must take, to significantly improve most cases of high blood pressure, worsening heart failure, most heart rhythm disorders and many other immune system diseases are amazingly simple, but takes a lot of work.
My health is slowly improving day by day. I feel younger, stronger, more alert, and with more energy. I never expect my heart to fully recover, but at this point, who cares! After 20+ years of dealing with Heart Failure, I am certainly not going to complain!
Re: The four essential steps, that I've taken, that help me live with Heart Failure
Quote:
Originally Posted by Machaon 11-13-2003, 08:32 PM
... I have noticed, as I have gotten older, that I need to eat a more balanced meal. If I snack on carbohydrates, without including a "proper" amount of fats and protein, my symptoms, especially heart arrythmia and shortness of breath, will get worse.
I do not eat after 7pm at night. I especially do not eat carbohydrates, because, at night, carbohydrates will really get my heart beating badly. At night, once my heart starts jumping, racing, thumping and skipping, it stays that way for hours, and sometimes for the entire night. ...
The quote at the top of this post is one of mine from 2003 during the time in my life when I was trying to figure out why the eating of carbs was causing me to suffer from increased breathing and heart rhythm problems. I did not find out, or accept, the reason for my increase, in nasty heart problems, until 2005 and my nasty, uncomfortable misery continued, and worsened from 2003, until 2005. I went on a healthy diet, December 2004, eventually lost 50 pounds, and my health, and heart failure, slowly and dramatically improved since then.
I can now eat after 7pm without suffering any of the old nasty problems.
Here is the link to the 2003 post: [url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showpost.php?p=716822&postcount=4[/url]
You can take every single medication known to mankind, and it won't take the place of a healthy diet. That is why I listed "diet" as essential step #1.
Re: The four essential steps, that I've taken, that help me live with Heart Failure
Machaon:
Just a few lines to let you know that what you are doing is very commandable. Not only are you facing and beating a tough foe in heart disease and getting rewarded for it by feeling better and living your life as normal as possible, but you are also an inspiration to others who are facing the same battle.
I have been dealing with heart disease for almost 22 years where I had a heart attack at the ripe old age of 34. There is no doubt in my mind that diet and exercise are among the top factors along with stress reduction and others needed in fighting this battle.
You are absolutely right in saying that there are great heart medications out there but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment. Many, if not most, of the side effects of the various medications are dose-related, and if you make the necessary life-style changes, you can minimize the dosage or even completely eliminate some of them. In the past 22 years, Plavix has been the only heart medication that I took after a stent implant in 2006. I stopped taking it 13 months later. I have been taking aspirin all along (now taking 325 mg daily).
Heart disease is tricky and tough to deal with, but it is not a death sentence. The key is to have self-motivation and to dedicate the time and effort to do your utmost and not to be passive about your treatment. There are a lot of resources on the internet, so educate yourself and work with your cardiologist on what is best for your indvidual case.
There was a time after my initial heart attack where I felt that I will never live to see 40. Now that I am almost 57, I thank God every day for giving me the strength and the will to go on and do the right things. In my own case, faith has been the key catalyst that made everything else possible. I have long ago stopped asking myself why me and rather look at the whole experience as a positive one in that I was given another chance at life and I am making the best of it. My personal inspiration has been my father who at the age of 53 had his first heart attack in 1975. He is now 86 and gets up every morning for his early one-hour walk with my mother. Of course, she has been the one handling the diet factor of his life-style changes.
I wish you continued success in dealing with your condition(s) and hope that others share their success stories. Keep the faith and hope.
Re: The four essential steps, that I've taken, that help me live with Heart Failure
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosa47
... You are absolutely right in saying that there are great heart medications out there but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment.
When my heart failure and health was starting to get worse, about 10 years ago, I started experimenting with my meds. Over and over again, I increased some, decreased some, tried new medications, went back and tried increasing or decreasing the same meds again, stopped a med, stopped another med, took a particular med twice a day, or three times a day, instead of once a day, etc.
Sometimes, my playing around with my meds helped, but most of the time, any perceived benefit was short-lived. My health continued to get worse.
I was looking for a magic bullet, a pill that would come to my rescue and stop my nasty, worsening health problems. Research shows that these miracle meds extend life and improve the quality of life. So...... why weren't my meds more effective!?
I got my answer when I went on a healthy diet. Only then did I experience significant improvements in my health. As you posted in your note: "but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment."
Many people, like myself, just want to pop a pill and do not want to fight the hard fight. It is only after illness gets debilitating, that we resign ourselves to doing the right thing.
Quote:
Many, if not most, of the side effects of the various medications are dose-related, and if you make the necessary life-style changes, you can minimize the dosage or even completely eliminate some of them.
I agree.
I experience very few side effects, if any, from my current meds, but if I increase them, the side effects can get nasty.
Just as you have experienced, in my case, thru life-style changes, I have eliminated most of my meds, and only take minimum doses of my current meds, and I am feeling better and better with each passing week.
Quote:
Heart disease is tricky and tough to deal with, but it is not a death sentence. The key is to have self-motivation and to dedicate the time and effort to do your utmost and not to be passive about your treatment. There are a lot of resources on the internet, so educate yourself and work with your cardiologist on what is best for your indvidual case.
I couldn't agree more. Doctors don't take the time, and don't have the time or inclination, to properly research each patient. Patients should use their doctor's input and diagnosis as just one of the many resources available in order to get the best outcome.
Thanks for your words of encouragement, and for posting about your own heart problems, and your success story.
The four essential steps, that I've taken, that help me live with Heart Failure 
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