Breathing difficulties

[Corncob]

Hi does anyone know if being unable to breathe when walking is one of the conditions of heart failure and is there any medication that will help or do I have to live with it. Corncob

[vinixxx]

Go to hospital first!

[Palpman]

Are you on any tablets and do you have arrhythmias?

[Corncob in reply to Palpman]

I have AF and have been taking beta blockers also tablets to slow my heart down but I really get out of breath when walking corncob

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hello Corncob

Yes shortness of breath can be a sign of heart failure. You initial post 11 days ago suggested that you'd only just been diagnosed with heart failure. I assume that you will have been put on a number of medications which help to manage the condition, however it frequently takes a few weeks before your body adjusts to them and for their full effect to be felt. It sometimes requires the medication to be adjusted to obtain the maximum benefit. Have a chat with your GP about how you feel so that they can monitor your medication dose.

[Corncob in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thank you the GP knows about breathing difficulties and say I must exercise he has increased my beta blocker tablet Corncob

[Palpman]

Beta blocker will decrease your heart rate and thereby lower your BP. If your heart rate is too low then it will also lessen your O2 in your blood making you breathless.

[Corncob in reply to Palpman]

Thank you

[Prada47]

Hello

I would have thought GP would have taken your BP and 02 prior to increasing your Beta Blocker, hence a benchmark to work to !!

Beta Blockers are a complex medication they may reduce your Heart Rate but not change Blood Pressure significantly. Having breathing difficulties can be caused by Exercise or even Hoovering, Walking Upstairs many many causes.

Having Preserved or Reduced Ejection Fraction can play a significant role in Breathlessness what is your EF ?

It looks like Entresto is a good Medication for HF and I believe that is what Medical Professionals try to get Patients on as soon as they can tolerate it.

In my case my other meds had to be reduced to get to the mid dose of Entresto !!!

HF is not pleasant BUT it is manageable in the majority of cases so hang in and see what happens !!

Hands Face Space to help stay Safe

[DizzyD]

Hi corncob

Sorry to hear you are having problems with your breathing. Hope this input helps which fits in with what others have already said.

Prior to being prescribed beta-blockers (without having a investigative diagnosis) i did have breathing problems, could not exercise as great as did in the past,tightness in chest etc. Then I was given beta blockers (and I was much, much worse. I literally could not walk let alone exercise due to heavy legs, shallow breathing etc. Became a couch potato. When I forced myself to walk for a few paces I would then have to stop the snail walk and rest for quite some time. So frustating and soul destroying.

So appointment arrived for first consult with cardiologist and I he asked me about my symptoms. I relayed the worse ones which occurred after being put on beta blocker but I became confused. Felt like I was telling him lies. Then light bulb moment and I told him my initial symptoms had become much worse on beta blocker and informed him I won't be taking them anymore. He was ok with this.

Without the beta blocker I manage to do some exercise which is restricted by heart issue but I no longer a couch potato.

You were advised to exercise? Bloody hell if my house went on fire when I was on beta blocker I would not have been able to make it out the door.

Anyway we are all individuals and meds can affect us in different ways. Listen to your body. I am not advocating that you stop your beta blocker I just relaying my experience.

Notice GP increased your beta blocker I suggest you monitor if your breathing gets worse on higher dose. But give body time to adjust to increased dose first.

Have a good day. Take care

[Corncob in reply to DizzyD]

Thank you