What causes damage to heart muscle?

Heart muscle damage can have many causes, including certain diseases, infection, heavy alcohol use, and the toxic effect of drugs, such as cocaine or some drugs used for chemotherapy. Genetic factors also can play a role. Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).
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How do you know if your heart muscle is damaged?

Damaged muscles disrupt electrical signals that control the heart. Some arrhythmias, such as tachycardia, are mild and cause symptoms such as: palpitations – the sensation of your heart pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, felt in your chest or throat. chest pain.
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Can a damaged heart muscle repair itself?

The heart is unable to regenerate heart muscle after a heart attack and lost cardiac muscle is replaced by scar tissue. Scar tissue does not contribute to cardiac contractile force and the remaining viable cardiac muscle is thus subject to a greater hemodynamic burden.
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What weakens the heart muscle?

Most often, a weakened heart muscle is caused by coronary artery disease or heart attack, but faulty heart valves, long-standing high blood pressure, and genetic disease may also be to blame. And sometimes, more than one condition may play a role in your weakening heart.
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What can be done for heart muscle damage?

Once disease reduces blood flow, your heart muscle may hibernate. It reduces its function to the point where it's barely keeping itself alive. Your cardiologist can try to restore blood flow and get your heart muscle back to more normal functioning through bypass surgery or by using a stent to open up the artery.
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - When the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick



How long can you live with a weak heart muscle?

Life expectancy with congestive heart failure varies depending on the severity of the condition, genetics, age, and other factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around one-half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive beyond five years.
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How do you strengthen a weak heart muscle?

7 powerful ways you can strengthen your heart
  1. Get moving. Your heart is a muscle and, as with any muscle, exercise is what strengthens it. ...
  2. Quit smoking. Quitting smoking is tough. ...
  3. Lose weight. Losing weight is more than just diet and exercise. ...
  4. Eat heart-healthy foods. ...
  5. Don't forget the chocolate. ...
  6. Don't overeat. ...
  7. Don't stress.
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What does a weak heart feel like?

Weakness or dizziness. Discomfort in your chest; you may feel a pressure or weight in your chest with activity or when going out in cold air. Palpitations (this may feel like a rapid heart rhythm, irregular heartbeat, skipped beats, or a flip-flop feeling in your chest.)
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Is chocolate good for your heart?

“Chocolate contains heart healthy nutrients such as flavonoids, methylxanthines, polyphenols and stearic acid which may reduce inflammation and increase good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol).”
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How long does it take to strengthen your heart?

“It takes about one to three months for regular exercise to have an impact on your blood pressure,” says Shin. “The benefits last only as long as you continue to exercise.” Exercise may also make the heart's 24/7 job easier by helping lower cholesterol, or the fats found in blood.
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Which vegetable is good for heart disease?

1. Leafy green vegetables. Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens are well known for their wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In particular, they're a great source of vitamin K, which helps protect your arteries and promote proper blood clotting ( 2 ).
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Does walking strengthen your heart muscle?

Take the dog out. Go for a relaxing stroll. With every step, walking offers benefits and is some of the best exercise for heart health. It can improve your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and energy levels, plus it can fight weight gain to improve heart health overall, explains the American Heart Association.
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What drinks are good for your heart?

Heart-healthy drinks (other than water)
  • Sparkling water (try adding chopped fruit or herbs; for example, fresh mint).
  • Unflavoured milk.
  • Plant-based milks with added calcium, like soy, almond, oat, rice milk.
  • Tea.
  • Coffee.
  • Small glass (125ml) of 100% fruit or vegetable juice.
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What are the early warning signs of heart disease?

Symptoms
  • Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina)
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed.
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back.
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Is coffee good for heart?

Drinking coffee—particularly two to three cups a day—is not only associated with a lower risk of heart disease and dangerous heart rhythms but also with living longer, according to studies being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session.
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Is bananas good for your heart?

Heart health

Bananas contain fiber, potassium, folate, and antioxidants, such as vitamin C. All of these support heart health. A 2017 review found that people who follow a high fiber diet have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those on a low fiber diet.
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Is wine good for your heart?

Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks.
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What are the 4 signs of heart failure?

Heart failure signs and symptoms may include:
  • Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down.
  • Fatigue and weakness.
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
  • Reduced ability to exercise.
  • Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged mucus.
  • Swelling of the belly area (abdomen)
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What is a cardiac cough?

If you have a long-term cough with congestive heart failure, that cough is something to pay attention to. It's called a cardiac cough and it may indicate that: Your heart condition is getting worse. Treatment isn't working as well as it needs to be. You're having side effects from your heart-failure medication.
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What are the 4 stages of heart failure?

There are four heart failure stages (Stage A, B, C and D). The stages range from "high risk of developing heart failure" to "advanced heart failure."
...
Stage C
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Less able to exercise.
  • Weak legs.
  • Waking up to urinate.
  • Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).
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Is walking good for heart failure?

Walking helps congestive heart failure patients in several ways: Reduces heart attack risk, including cutting the risk of having a second heart attack. Strengthens their hearts and improves lung function. Long term, aerobic activity improves your heart's ability to pump blood to your lungs and throughout your body.
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How do you know when heart failure is near the end?

In the final stages of heart failure, people feel breathless both during activity and at rest. Persistent coughing or wheezing. This may produce white or pink mucus. The cough may be worse at night or when lying down.
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Can you live 20 years heart failure?

In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive five years. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.
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Can you have heart failure and not know it?

If you have heart failure, you may not have any symptoms, or the symptoms may range from mild to severe. Symptoms can be constant or can come and go. Heart failure symptoms are related to the changes that occur to your heart and body, and the severity depends on how weak your heart is.
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What is the healthiest morning drink?

10 Healthy Morning Drinks to Get Your Day Started
  • Honey and cinnamon drink. Have a glass of honey and cinnamon drink first thing in the morning. ...
  • Lemon Juice. ...
  • Cinnamon Green Tea. ...
  • Coconut water. ...
  • Aloe juice. ...
  • Pomegranate tea. ...
  • Fruit smoothies. ...
  • Green tea lassi.
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