Cardiovascular diseases remain the first cause of death in Argentina –27.7 % of the deaths in 2022-and within them heart failure (IC) grows as a silent epidemic. It is estimated that one in 100 adults suffers from it and the figure jumps to more than 10 % after 70 years; In local records (Office IC AR, 2022) the average age of patients is 67 years. This condition causes more than 25,000 annual hospitalizations and is one of the largest health costs in the country.
What is exactly?
Unlike cardiac arrest, in which the heart stops, IC means that the muscle cannot pump with sufficient strength. The result is a poor oxygen delivery to the organs and the accumulation of fluid in lung, abdomen and legs.
Alert signals that should not be ignored
- Lack of air when walking a few meters or even at rest.
- Swelling ankles, feet or abdomen.
- Persistent fatigue
- Sudden increase in weight (≥ 2 kg in a few days).
- Nighttime or bedtime.
Before any of these symptoms, consult immediately. An early diagnosis can be the difference between a full and repeated hospitalization life.
How it is diagnosed
With three simple and available studies throughout the country:
- Blood analysis (BNP/NT-prop over): Detects cardiac overload.
- Doppler echocardiogram: measures the ejection fraction and allows you to distinguish IC “with reduced ejection fraction” (HFREF) or “preserved” (HFPEF).
- Electrocardiogram: records arrhythmias or previous lesions.
The sooner they are performed, the better the chances of curbing the progress of the disease.
Treatment 2025: Four drugs that change history
The 2023 update of the European guides advises to start the call as quickly as possible Quadruple therapy:
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Together, this strategy reduces up to 60 % deaths and hospitalizations by IC. In addition, SGLT-2 inhibitors have already demonstrated benefits in HFPEF, a previously orphan form of effective therapies.
Beyond pills: technology that adds years of life
- Implantable devices (cardiodesfibrillator or resinchronizer) for selected patients.
- Telemonitoring: Recent studies show that remote monitoring reduces internations by 50 % and avoids eight out of ten unnecessary face -to -face consultations.
- Artificial intelligence and voice assistants: programs such as the one that monitors at a distance to 270 patients in Spain anticipate decompensations and improve adherence to treatment.
Risk factors that you can control
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Smoking or excess alcohol
- Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
Adopting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, limiting salt to 5 g per day, performing at least 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity and quitting smoking are steps as powerful as any medication to prevent or curb IC.
Self -care day by day
- Pesate every day at the same time; If you upload 2 kg in 3 days, let your doctor.
- I measured your pressure and your heart rate; registrations.
- Vaccinate against flu and pneumococcus: they reduce decompensations.
- I slept well; The sleep apnea aggravates the painting.
- Take the remedies even if you feel good.
President Observatory Foundation for Prehospital Medicine.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
