What happens if the 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 answer is most likely yes. The heart muscle begins to heal soon after a heart attack. It usually takes about eight weeks to heal. Scar tissue may form in the damaged area, and that scar tissue does not contract or pump as well as healthy muscle tissue.
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How do you know if you have damaged your heart muscle?

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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How do you treat damaged heart muscle?

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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How long can you live with a damaged 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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Can heart attack damage be reversed?



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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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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How do you repair heart muscle naturally?

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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How can I strengthen my heart muscles?

Aerobic Exercise

How much: Ideally, at least 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week. Examples: Brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, playing tennis and jumping rope. Heart-pumping aerobic exercise is the kind that doctors have in mind when they recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity.
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How do you check heart muscle?

Common medical tests to diagnose heart conditions
  1. Blood tests. ...
  2. Electrocardiogram (ECG) ...
  3. Exercise stress test. ...
  4. Echocardiogram (ultrasound) ...
  5. Nuclear cardiac stress test. ...
  6. Coronary angiogram. ...
  7. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ...
  8. Coronary computed tomography angiogram (CCTA)
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What are the first signs of a weak heart?

Signs of a Weakened Heart Muscle
  • Shortness of breath (also known as dyspnea), particularly when you lie down or exert yourself.
  • Chest pain, especially a heavy sensation in your chest indicative of heart failure caused by a heart attack.
  • Fatigue.
  • Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet (also known as edema)
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Can weak heart muscle be strengthened?

Strengthening your heart is one of the best things you can do for your health. And as you know, the best way to strengthen your heart is to exercise. In fact, if you don't exercise you're more than twice as likely to get heart disease as someone who does.
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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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Can you feel if your heart is clogged?

A completely blocked coronary artery will cause a heart attack. The classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack include crushing chest pain or pressure, shoulder or arm pain, shortness of breath, and sweating. Women may have less typical symptoms, such as neck or jaw pain, nausea and fatigue.
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How long does it take to strengthen your heart?

Heart rate – changes within a couple of weeks

Resting heart rate can decrease by up to 1 beat/min in sedentary individuals with each week of aerobic training, at least for a few weeks. Other studies have shown smaller reductions with fewer than 5 beats following up to 20 weeks of aerobic training.
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What is the best vitamin for your heart?

Popular 'heart health' vitamins
  • Fish oil. To date, only large doses of prescription fish oil may have some cardiac benefit. ...
  • Magnesium. Many of us get enough magnesium each day by eating foods like spinach, nuts and avocados. ...
  • Folic acid. ...
  • CoQ10. ...
  • Fiber. ...
  • Red yeast rice.
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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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Does walking help strengthen your heart?

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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How do you recover from heart tissue damage?

Medical treatment
  1. medications, including those to dissolve blood clots.
  2. percutaneous coronary intervention, a mechanical method of restoring blood flow to any damaged tissue.
  3. coronary artery bypass grafting, commonly called a heart bypass, diverts blood around damaged areas of the arteries to improve blood flow.
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What should I eat to make my heart strong?

15 Incredibly Heart-Healthy Foods
  • Leafy green vegetables. Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens are well known for their wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. ...
  • Whole grains. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Avocados. ...
  • Fatty fish and fish oil. ...
  • Walnuts. ...
  • Beans. ...
  • Dark chocolate.
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What is the first stage of heart failure?

Common early symptoms of heart failure include: shortness of breath. difficulty exercising. fatigue and weakness.
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Does heart failure show on ECG?

Tests you may have to diagnose heart failure include: blood tests – to check whether there's anything in your blood that might indicate heart failure or another illness. an electrocardiogram (ECG) – this records the electrical activity of your heart to check for problems.
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How long can you live with a weak heart?

Although there have been recent improvements in congestive heart failure treatment, researchers say the prognosis for people with the disease is still bleak, with about 50% having an average life expectancy of less than five years. For those with advanced forms of heart failure, nearly 90% die within one year.
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What is the last stage of heart failure?

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 a heart failure be cured?

For most people, heart failure is a long-term condition that can't be cured. But treatment can help keep the symptoms under control, possibly for many years. The main treatments are: healthy lifestyle changes.
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