Consequences of heart muscle weakness

The consequences of a cardiac insufficiency manifest themselves primarily in the reduced exercise capacity of the patient. They suffer from shortness of breath, can hardly put any physical strain on themselves and therefore can hardly participate in any activities. In addition, the restricted function of the heart can also affect the other organs, for example kidney failure.

In the worst case, a cardiogenic shock can occur when the heart decompensates acutely, i.e. is acutely overloaded and its functional capacity collapses. Cardiogenic shock is manifested by a rapid pulse, low blood pressure, severe shortness of breath, cold sweat and clouding of consciousness. Under certain circumstances, this can also lead to death.

Prophylaxis

The development of heart muscle weakness cannot always be avoided. Many factors play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Nevertheless, many preventive measures help to keep the heart strong and healthy.

Modifying one’s lifestyle is therefore of central importance. Every person should take physical exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes each. Endurance sports such as jogging, swimming, cycling or walking are suitable for this.

Endurance sports strengthen the cardiovascular system and make it more resilient in the future. A healthy and balanced diet also plays a major role. High blood fat values are an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

The diet should therefore be rich in fiber, rich in vitamins and rather low in fat. It is recommended to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. With sufficient exercise and a healthy diet, much can already be achieved and a large proportion of cardiovascular diseases can be avoided.

Sport has a preventive effect with regard to cardiovascular diseases.Light endurance sports can significantly reduce the risk of heart muscle weakness. If heart muscle weakness is already present, sport should definitely be practiced in the early stages. Light endurance sports that do not strain the heart too much should be done.

This can improve the pumping function of the heart. Competitive sports should not be practiced, because the opposite effect is more likely to be achieved if the strain is too great. In later stages of the disease, sports activities are generally not recommended.

Since patients in the late stages usually already suffer from considerable shortness of breath, they are not able to exert themselves more physically anyway. The heart would be put under far too much strain by sports and would not be able to cope with the demands of the stress situation. Therefore, from a certain degree of severity onwards, physical rest is recommended up to bed rest.