The term “heart failure” makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all. The fact is, in heart failure, the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be, preventing the heart from keeping up with its workload.
Your body depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the body’s cells. When the cells are nourished properly, the body can function normally.
With heart failure, the weakened heart can’t supply the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath and some people have coughing.
Can Heart Failure Occur in Postpartum?
The claims made about heart failure in the media are often surprising, like the claim that heart failure can develop during or in the months following pregnancy, especially in news sources like the Donner County Daily Bee. In the January 18, 2018, the online edition of the Bee included an article claiming that women pregnant women were most likely to develop heart failure in the weeks following the delivery. The article revealed that symptoms of heart failure in this case are manifested by a chronic cough, especially when prone as well as exhaustion, dizziness and pains in the chest (“For Pregnant, 2018).
This news source was right on target as far as facts go because the information was derived from the results of a recently published study by Mogos, Piano, McFarlin, Salemi, Liese and Briller (2018). The study was predicated on the fact that, while heart failure has long-been identified as a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, little evidence exists on the prevalence, correlates and outcomes of heart failure before, during and after delivery. FACT: In this case, Mogos et al. (2018) established that 60% of heart failure cases associated with pregnancy developed post-partum and in many cases as much as six weeks after delivery (p. e004005).
Can Smoke-inhalation be a Cause of Heart Failure?
A clip from Dr. Oz’s Inside Edition on February 6, 2018 included a comment on a recent episode from the popular TV show “This is Us,” suggesting that the death of main character Jack Pearson could be explained by a heart attack that he suffered because of trying to rescue his family from their burning house. The comment was based on research conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, which reported that fine particulate matter like that found in smoke can get deep into the lungs and ultimately into the bloodstream and cause a non-fatal heart attack (“Heart”).
In the case of character Jack Pearson, the clip suggests that he apparently died from a heart attack. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the subject confirmed that the short-term exposure to and inhalation of fine particulate matter like smoke can cause a myocardial infarction. FACT: Although the researchers do not mention heart failure, the contribution of inhaled smoke to chronic heart failure could be inferred because heart attack and other cardiac events can weaken the heart and cause heart failure (Luo, Zhu, Yao, Hou, Zhang, Cao, & Wang, 2015; “Heart Failure”).
Can Lifestyle Changes Improve Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a chronic disease needing lifelong management. However, with treatment, signs and symptoms of heart failure can improve, and the heart sometimes becomes stronger. Treatment may help you live longer and reduce your chance of dying suddenly.
Fact: Lifestyle changes often improve or control some of the factors contributing to heart failure.
References
For pregnant women, heart failure most likely in weeks after
delivery. (2018, Jan. 12). Bonner County Daily Bee. Retrieved from http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/article/20180112/AP/301129979
Health and environmental effects of particulate matter. EPA.
Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm
Luo, C., Zhu, X., Yao, C., Hou, L., Zhang, J., Cao, J., & Wang,
A. (2015). Short-term exposure to particulate air pollution and risk of myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 22(19), 14651-14662
Mogos, M. F., Piano, M. R., McFarlin, B. L., Salemi, J. L.,
Liese, K. L., & Briller, J. E. (2018). Heart failure in pregnant women: A concern across the pregnancy continuum. Circulation: Heart Failure, 11(1), e004005.