2023-06-30 10:43:54
According to the latest Health Insurance information campaign (source 1), heart failure affects at least 1.5 million people in France, mainly over 60.
What is heart failure?
We speak of heart failure when the heart can no longer eject enough blood to the various organs. The disease manifests in two forms, as explained by Dr. Walid Amara, president of the National College of Hospital Cardiologists: “In heart failure with impaired systolic function, it is the heart pump system that malfunctions. In heart failure with preserved systolic function, the heart can no longer relax properly. »
Weight gain: one of the four symptoms to be aware of
Heart failure is manifested by four symptoms characteristics summarized byacronym EPOF : shortness of breath, weight, edema and fatigue. “It is important that the general public know these four signs to think about consulting a doctor if necessary”, emphasizes the cardiologist.
However, a survey carried out in 2022 for the National Health Insurance Fund shows that rapid weight gain remains the symptom, among the 4 signs of heart failure, the most misunderstood among seniors.
Namely: in addition to heart failure, other diseases (diabetes, etc.) can affect weight.
Why this weight gain in heart failure?
Insufficiently pumped by the heart, blood does not circulate normally in the body. There will then occur a phenomenon of water and salt retention. Instead of being eliminated, the fluid accumulates in the body, which explains the extra pounds on the scale.
In the body, two areas are particularly affected: the legs and the lungs.
Swollen legs and pulmonary edema
Characteristically, the legs will begin to swell. To check for the presence of edema, it is enough to press a finger on the skin. “If there is a trace, it is that there is an edema”, explains Dr. Amara. This swelling of the legs is a warning sign, but it is not dangerous in itself.
On the other hand, pulmonary edema is more problematic. Fluid in the lungs causes shortness of breath, another typical sign of heart failure. Without treatment, this pulmonary edema can become a life-threatening emergency.
What weight gain should you worry about?
No need to panic if the scale displays 1 or 2 extra kilos. On the other hand, gaining 5 kilos in less than a month is a real alarm signal.
Should you weigh yourself every day in case of heart failure?
” It’s not an obligation “, replies Dr. Amara. For him, it is enough monitor your weight regularly. “Once a week is a good rhythm”, he believes. Some patients with heart failure benefit from remote monitoring. They then receive SMS alerts reminding them of the importance of weighing themselves. These patients are equipped with a connected scale which transmits the information to the cardiology department which monitors them.
Is telemonitoring offered to all patients with heart failure?
This remote monitoring is rreimbursement to patients discharged from hospital after an acute episode of heart failure. At regular intervals, the patient himself communicates basic information on his state of health: weight, heart rate, blood pressure, breath, etc. via a dedicated application. In the event of an alert, he is invited to consult his cardiologist.
Leffectiveness of this device, which prevents hospitalizations and deaths, has been demonstrated in an experiment. This phase is now complete. But remote monitoring is not yet offered to all patients: it is under development. Dr. Amara considers that a six-month follow-up by telemonitoring is ” very useful “, after hospitalization, weight gain being one of the most important parameters to check.
How to lose weight with heart failure?
To return to a normal weight, it will be necessary eliminate excess water and salt stored in the body. Diuretics are the drugs indicated in this situation. “Combined with a low-salt diet, these drugs make you urinate more. Quickly, the patient will feel better,” observes Dr. Amara. Heart failure being a chronic diseasepatients learn to adjust the doses of diuretics themselves, depending on their weight.
The cardiologist may also be required to modify the background treatment for heart failure (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin 2 receptor antagonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, etc.), drugs that improve the prognosis of the disease.
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