What should I do if my heart failure causes cough?

Coughing caused by heart failure is a common problem. Patients must pay attention to it, because some people tend to judge this symptom as bronchitis or asthma attacks, and patients with severe heart failure will also show this condition, so it is important to pay attention to the distinction, control emotions and get more rest.

When heart failure is more severe, it is usually accompanied by paroxysmal coughing, and symptoms such as coughing with sputum when lying down to sleep, but being more comfortable when sitting upright. Some patients will cough up foamy or pink sputum. If this kind of persistent coughing occurs, it must be taken seriously and the patient must be closely monitored to prevent further development of heart failure.

(1) Pay attention to rest: Except for patients with more severe heart failure who need to rest in bed, patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure should do appropriate exercise, such as walking. It helps patients to promote blood circulation. People who walk regularly have a 21% lower risk of heart failure.

(2) Control your emotions: Mental relaxation is good for your body. Extreme joy or sorrow will only make heart failure worse, so you must learn to control your emotions.

(3) Limit sodium salt intake: In heart failure, the patient experiences edema due to venous and microvascular congestion, increased extracellular fluid and sodium retention. Therefore, it is important to appropriately limit sodium salt intake.

(4) Lose weight: Losing weight can effectively reduce the burden on the heart and alleviate heart failure. It is understood that the risk of heart failure in obese men and obese women increases by 75% and 106% respectively; being overweight increases the risk of heart failure in men and women by 15% and 21% respectively.

(5) Control high blood pressure: High blood pressure is an important factor in the development of heart failure. To prevent and treat heart failure, blood pressure must be controlled.