Q: What are the early warning signs of heart failure?
Dr. Anil Punjabi, Cardiologist, Ohana Heart at Maui Memorial Outpatient Clinic: Heart failure has a wide range of definitions, but the most common is a culmination of symptoms and body changes that occur when the heart is not able to effectively pump out sufficient blood in order to meet the body’s demands. A lot of the symptoms can start slowly and progress gradually over time, making it easy to miss these signs and symptoms.
The Heart Failure Society of America developed the acronym “FACES” to help spot the symptoms:
• Fatigue — People with heart failure get tired easily, as the heart can no longer meet the body’s demand for oxygen and nutrients that the blood carries.
• Activity limitation — Even daily tasks such as getting up to use the bathroom can seem even more difficult.
• Congestion — Fluid buildup in the lungs can result in coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulty, especially when trying to lie flat.
• Edema — Fluid builds up in the legs and ankles, causing swelling, also known as edema.
• Shortness of breath — Usually this starts with activity, but eventually starts to occur with minimal movement and then at rest.
These five symptoms can be found in other medical conditions; however, speaking to your physician about these symptoms can help start the workup towards the potential diagnosis of heart failure. An early diagnosis can lead to the start of very effective medical treatments that have the potential to reverse this condition.
Risk factors for heart failure include previous heart attacks, uncontrolled high blood pressure, irregular and/or fast heartbeats, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol use, high salt and high fat foods, and even genetics.
Left untreated, heart failure can become irreversible, life-threatening and cause serious complications including kidney failure, fluid in and around the lungs and lastly death.
A staggering 6.2 million people have the diagnosis of heart failure in the U.S. alone. Last year 15 percent of all deaths were associated with the diagnosis of heart failure.
Ask your friendly heart doctor today if you suffer from any of the above symptoms and help us stop this epidemic from worsening.
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Q: Are detox diets healthy?
Chrissy Miller, RN, Employee Health and Wellness Manager, Maui Health: It’s tempting to try something like a detox diet or juice cleanse when you want to lose weight or improve your health. These plans sound like a quick fix and make impressive claims about their health benefits, such as promising to flush toxins out of your body or rapidly shed pounds. But the truth is there is little evidence that these diets are beneficial, and in some cases they may actually cause more harm than good.
For one thing, your body already has organs and systems that are constantly working to remove toxins and flush them away. So you don’t need a special juice or tea to do this for you.
For another, many of these cleanse diets are based on severely restricting calories and nutrients. Over time, this can slow your metabolism, ultimately making it harder to lose weight or keep it off. For some people, it can also trigger disordered eating habits. And because detox diets tend to be short and intense, any weight you lose by fasting or restricted eating will usually just come right back.
Some detox diets involve taking special herbs or supplements that are untested or may be harmful. These can include “colon cleansing” stimulants that can make colon issues worse, so be especially wary of diets that ask you to buy special products as part of the cleanse.
If you want to jump-start your health with a special diet or wellness challenge for a few days or weeks, try something healthier. You could take a break from refined sugar or processed foods, try a plant-based diet or give up alcohol for a month.
Long term, making smaller but sustainable positive changes to your diet and lifestyle will do more to help you manage your weight and get healthy. It will also improve your heart health and reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
Maui Memorial has been recognized for excellence in heart and stroke care from the American Heart Association. Learn more about our services at mauihealth.org/heart.
* Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana’i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth.org/healthwise.
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