The acute treatment of someone who presents with heart failure depends on the severity of the heart failure and the presence of other underlying conditions. Initial treatment may involve stabilizing the patient’s condition by providing oxygen and medications to improve heart function and reduce symptoms. This may include diuretics to help remove excess fluid from the body, vasodilators to help relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow, and inotropes to increase the force of contraction of the heart muscle.
If the heart failure is severe, the patient may need to be hospitalized and treated in an intensive care unit. In this case, additional treatments may be necessary, such as mechanical support to help the heart pump blood, such as an intra-aortic balloon pump or an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine. In some cases, a heart transplant may be recommended as a treatment option.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization in the United States, with an estimated 870,000 hospitalizations for heart failure each year. The cost of treatment for heart failure can vary widely depending on the severity of the condition, the length of hospitalization, and the specific treatments and procedures required. In the United States, the average hospitalization cost for heart failure was estimated to be $9,700 in 2017.
Heart failure is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management to prevent hospitalization and improve long-term survival. The best way to avoid readmission for heart failure is to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, and taking medications as prescribed. It is also important to regularly monitor and manage any underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, that may contribute to the development or progression of heart failure