What to do if heart failure occurs

Heart failure is actually a serious problem, and emergency measures must be taken in time. If there is an oxygen concentrator or oxygen mask at home, then the patient must be given oxygen in time, and pay attention to monitoring the patient's blood pressure.

1. If heart failure occurs suddenly, or the condition suddenly worsens on the basis of existing chronic heart failure, the first thing to do is not to panic. Let the patient sit on the edge of the bed quickly with his legs hanging down (to reduce the amount of blood returning to the heart). At the same time, call 120 emergency number immediately to report the patient's condition and detailed geographical location, especially nearby landmark buildings or well-known public places, and keep the phone open to avoid the emergency personnel contacting you with questions and the line is always busy.

2. If you have an oxygen concentrator or oxygen cylinder at home, give low-flow oxygen as soon as possible (1 to 2 L will be enough on the flow meter). It is best to add medical alcohol and water in a ratio of 1:1 to the humidifier bottle (if there is no alcohol, pure water can be used to humidify the oxygen). This will help eliminate foam in the lungs (pulmonary edema is more obvious at this time).

3. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, you can measure the patient's blood pressure and pulse. Patients with heart disease are recommended to be equipped with a blood pressure monitor. It is best to have a simple pulse oximeter that can be clipped on the finger to monitor the oxygen content in the body and reflect whether there is hypoxia and the degree of hypoxia.

4. If the blood pressure is not lower than 90/60 mmHg, you can take a tablet of furosemide (scientific name: furosemide) sublingually to eliminate excess water in the body through rapid diuretic effect, relieve pulmonary edema and reduce the burden on the heart.

5. If the blood pressure exceeds 130/80 mmHg, you can also try taking 12.5 mg of captopril (scientific name: captopril) sublingually to dilate the arteries and veins, while reducing the preload and afterload of the heart.

6. If the patient is wheezing obviously and a wheezing sound similar to that of a bellows can be heard by those around him, the patient can be asked to take a tablet of aminophylline orally or sublingually to reduce the resistance of the small airways and relieve the symptoms of cardiac asthma.

7. Of course, for patients who have not been diagnosed with heart failure before, if the patients and their families have no medical background, the above-mentioned drugs are not recommended.