“What are the long-term management strategies for heart failure?”

Long-term management strategies are designed to preserve heart function with medications, an implantable defibrillator if needed (device inserted into the chest wall that will provide internal shocks to the heart to prevent death from abnormal heart rhythms), and improve quality of life and manage symptoms (shortness of breath, leg and abdominal swelling). If the heart continues to weaken despite medications (all of the above measures), then the patient will be evaluated for a heart transplant or a device inserted to heart to help it pump better; the workup for these measures is extensive.

Life-style - focus on very low salt (sodium) diet. Many medications help prevent episodic worsening of heart failure, prevent progression of disease and in many cases improve heart function. To name a few - Entresto or older class of medicines called Ace inhibitors, spironolactone (or newer finerenone), beta-blockers, SGLT-2 inhibitors (empagliflozin for example). They are used in combination for best effect. With frequent physician visits, compliance with diet and medications, and with cardiac rehabilitation, heart failure is a very manageable disease today. Have a great day. Igor H.