Heart attack and heart failure

[Marmalade2]

Why is it that anyone who has had a heart attack they are getting out into the category of heart failure even when no damage .

[RufusScamp]

"Heart failure" is a horrible term. It just means that your heart is not working as efficiently as it should. Mine was diagnosed after an echoscan, which showed the two halves of my heart were not as synchronised as they should be. Medication has improved this, along with a pacemaker as the condition was very severe.

There is lots of information on the main BHF website which might help you. It's good that your heart is not badly damaged. With care you should be fine.

[Marmalade2 in reply to RufusScamp]

I have damage am post 7 month heart attack but it was the left ventricular I have 38% damage to the left but also had a stent which was successful but some people I have met have no damage and they have been put in same category I have echo scan Wednesday so am hoping it has improved a little but am on 7 meds a day and most for life the first 4 months where hard as my marriage broke down as well and the stress came with it but am moving forward I feel a lot better I have stopped smoking now 3 and a half months and stick to cardio rehab and eat healthier but not back at work yet but my job safe .

[HenryTudor]

A good question that I’ve asked of the cardio team a number of times and received no answer. My medical records had “heart failure” inserted without comment and some time after my HA (I’m coming up to my 3rd anniversary). I’m currently seeing a Heart Failure Nurse - part of the Heart Failure Team!

[Beardie100]

I got diagnosed with HF ovér a year ago. I accept my heart doesn't work as well as it should.Given the difficulty I had getting my heart problems diagnosed I am happy to have the heart failure nurse specialist support.

[MountainGoat52]

I've had a heart attack, two stents and a triple bypass and nowhere on my records does it mention heart failure. I had an ultrasound ECG and the only trace of the HA was a small amount of scarring on part of an inner wall of my heart.... it took the technician 10 minutes to find it! My GP has declared me to be "fixed". If I had a diagnosis of HF I would certainly be asking questions as to the reason for it. I think you need more details in relation to your situation.

[Cruiser25]

As RufusScamp said, the term "heart Failure" is a horrible term and just plainly incorrect in it's description. It's unfortunate the medical terms the medical profession are familiar with have not kept pace with the amazing drug therapies they now have at their disposal.

Heart inefficiency, or under performance or whatever it may be called, we've lots of accounts on here where really low numbers of EF have been turned around.

I myself had an EF of 38% following my HA. Not even a hint of heart failure mentioned anywhere, I understand it is usually indicated at 35% or lower, but there are people completing amazing tasks, sporting events & physical feats with these and lesser numbers....would you categorise these as heart failing people?

Yes we can be left with damage and yes this can limit our performance.... but we can improve, diet, lifestyle and medication all together with our 'will' to better ourselves and there is a brighter future out there...

[richard_jw]

Firstly, I am not a doctor.

That said, I have been told that heart failure is diagnosed firstly by symptoms. For instance, breathlessness, swollen ankles.

Then usually via an echocardiogram. One thing they look for is called the ejection fraction. This is the percentage of oxygenated blood pumped out of the left ventricle (the main pumping chamber of the heart) into the aorta (and then around the body).

"normal" EF is 60% and greater. After I had a heart attack, mine was around 50%. Since then it has got to 61%.

An EF of 40% or less is considered systolic heart failure. That is only 40% or less of blood gets pumped into the aorta. from the LV

I have some symptoms of HF (well to my mind). I have slight ankle swelling, sometimes get out of breath when I should not, and have difficulty doing much exertion (e.g. 30 mins of strenuous digging).

There is another form of HF, called HF with preserved ejection fraction. This happens when the left ventricle is not adequately filled from the left atrium. So there is not enough blood for the LV to pump out. This is also called diastolic heart failure and is more difficult to diagnose, and treat.

As you get older, the heart can get stiffer, and you can get heart failure even with no damage done (e.g. damage from a HA).

I am told that I do not have any form of HF. I had a stress echocardiogram recently and I was told that it would have revealed any symptoms of HF.

So if you have had a HA, it does not mean that HF is likely.

[Heather1957]

I have no idea of why certain terms are used, I suppose when you have a heart attack your heart has failed you hence 'heart failure'?

If you have been diagnosed with a heart failure does it impact on other aspects of your life?

I have never had a heart attack but have had a bypass (2017) and 2 stents (2021) I don't think I have been diagnosed as heart failure.

[Hatchjd]

I had an NSTEMI June 2019 - 2 stents LAD & LCX. An echo the day after the stents my EF46% with left ventricle stunning due to ischemia. I was referred back to my GP but due to the pandemic the only follow up I had was lab work at 18 months after the event. I saw a cardiologist privately August 2022 ( he also works at the NHS hospital where my stents were done). A repeat echo by him showed my EF was now 69% and he could not find any damage to the heart. My EKG was normal.