As temperatures soared to 38°C in many places after the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, a cardiologist yesterday advised people with heart failure to drink sufficient water, but not too much to avoid swelling (edema) in the legs or pulmonary edema.
The cardiologist also said that the number of people hospitalized for heart failure has increased ninefold in 10 years.
Central Weather Administration’s data showed that due to a Foehn wind in Taitung County, the mercury hit 40°C in the county’s Taimali Township (太麻里) at 1:36pm yesterday, while the temperature hit 40.1°C in the Tea Research and Extension Station’s Taitung Substation at 2:18pm yesterday.
Photo: CNA
It also issued a “yellow” heat warning at 2:30pm yesterday — signifying temperatures of more than 36°C in a single day — in Taipei and New Taipei City, Hualien County, Taitung County and 11 other regions.
In a heart failure education seminar for the public in Taipei yesterday, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s Heart Failure Center director Wang Chao-hung Wang (王兆弘) said heart failure is linked to multiple risk factors.
Aside from aging, 28.2 percent of people with heart failure have it from heart blockage, 21.7 percent from myocardial infarction (heart attack,) 27.5 percent are linked to other reasons, which include heart valve problems, arrhythmia, hypertension, myocarditis, thyroid disease, pregnancy or childbirth, and chemotherapy, he said.
Wang said that with medical advances, many people with heart damage after an acute heart attack can survive after cardiac catheterization or other medical procedures, but they would continue to live with heart failure.
National Health Insurance data show that the number of people hospitalized for heart failure has increased ninefold in 10 years, he said.
“Fatigue, swelling and shortness of breath are three common symptoms of heart failure,” Wang said, adding that swelling is usually in the legs, ankles and feet, adding that people can self-test by seeing if a dimple (or pit) remains visible on the skin after using their finger to press down for five seconds, and if accompanied with fatigue and shortness of breath, they could be signs of heart failure.
As temperatures have been soaring in the past few days, Wang reminded people with heart failure to “limit their fluid intake,” and not drink as much as they like, because while preventing dehydration, they must also avoid fluid buildup in the lungs and in the lower parts of the body, causing edema or pulmonary edema, and should also learn when to take diuretics.
Linkou Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital cardiac surgeon Liu Kuo-sheng (劉國聖) said people with chronic heart failure can improve their condition with treatment, such as coronary artery bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement surgery, ventricular assist device implantation, or a heart transplant.
He also said that mechanical circulatory support technology can be used in an acute life-threatening condition.
In addition to surgical interventions, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s Heart Failure Center director Chen Shyh-ming (陳世明) said that people with heart failure should follow a healthy diet, limit salt and water consumption, avoid high glycemic index foods and sugary drinks, cook food by blanching, steaming or boiling, and exercise regularly to improve cardiopulmonary function and life quality.
Additional reporting by CNA
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