It’s the most frequent cause of hospitalization in people over age 65 — and a serious condition that usually requires rigorous, lifelong treatment. Along with lifestyle changes and drugs, supplements can help ease symptoms of this ailment……...CLICK & SEE
Symptoms
Extreme fatigue and weakness.
Shortness of breath after very little exertion or while reclining.
Severe cough that produces reddish brown sputum.
Unexplained extremely rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Swelling (edema) of the extremities, especially ankles and feet.
When to Call Your Doctor
If you regularly feel extremely fatigued and short of breath after limited exertion.
If you experience severe breathlessness or chest pain, which may indicate a heart attack — call an ambulance at once.
If you have congestive heart failure and you develop fever or rapid or irregular heartbeat or symptoms worsen.
What It Is
In congestive heart failure (CHF), a weakened, or failing, heart doesn’t pump as efficiently as it should. As a result, not enough oxygen-rich blood gets delivered to all parts of the body. Often simply called heart failure, CHF typically lingers and worsens over time. As blood flow from the heart slows, the blood returning to the heart backs up, leading to “congestion” in the tissues. Fluid can accumulate in the lungs, causing shortness of breath; can pool in the ankles, making them swell up; or can produce myriad other symptoms.
What Causes It
A heart attack, which scars the heart and interferes with its pumping ability, frequently results in CHF. Other causes include persistent high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, long-term drug or alcohol abuse, and infections of the heart muscle or valves.
How Supplements Can Help
Various medications can strengthen the heart’s pumping action, expand blood vessels, increase blood flow, and eliminate excess fluid from the body. In consultation with your doctor, all these supplements can be taken long term along with conventional drugs to help slow the progression of CHF. Benefits may appear within three to four weeks.
What Else You Can Do
Get plenty of rest and don’t undertake strenuous activity.
Eat smaller, more frequent meals, which require less energy to digest.
Reduce your salt intake and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.
Regular walking and other types of mild aerobic exercise help many patients with CHF. However, always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Supplement Recommendations
Vitamin C/Vitamin E
Coenzyme Q10
Hawthorn
Carnitine
Taurine
Magnesium
Ginkgo Biloba
Thiamin
Vitamin C/Vitamin E
Dosage: 1,000 mg vitamin C 3 times a day; 400 IU vitamin E daily.
Comments: Check with your doctor if taking anticoagulant drugs.
Coenzyme Q10
Dosage: 100 mg twice a day.
Comments: For best absorption, take with food.
Hawthorn
Dosage: 100-150 mg 3 times a day.
Comments: Standardized to contain at least 1.8% vitexin.
Carnitine
Dosage: 1,000 mg L-carnitine twice a day on an empty stomach.
Comments: When using for longer than 1 month, add a mixed amino acid complex (follow package directions).
Taurine
Dosage: 500 mg L-taurine twice a day on an empty stomach.
Comments: When using for longer than 1 month, add a mixed amino acid complex (follow package directions).
Magnesium
Dosage: 400 mg twice a day with food.
Comments: Do not take if you have kidney disease.
Ginkgo Biloba
Dosage: 40 mg 3 times a day.
Comments: Standardized to have at least 24% flavone glycosides.
Thiamin
Dosage: 200 mg a day.
Comments: Also called vitamin B1.
Source:Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
