Supplements that may be helpful in congestive heart
failure
There are quite a number of herbs and supplements that could have a
beneficial effect on heart disease. I have listed some below. You may click on
each one for more information but ultimately the use of supplements has to be
done with the full knowledge and approval of your health care provider. Reduce
calories from sodas. Also
check out the link above for heart disease.
Fish Oils or eating cold
water fish reduces the risk for heart rhythm disturbances and may reduce the
risk of heart
palpitations, atrial fibrillation and ventricular
arrhythmia. For
patients whose condition is controlled with standard care, omega-3 fatty acid
supplements appear to improve their condition even more. Journal of the American
College of Cardiology, 2011.
Fish and omega-3 fatty acids and
heart failure. A high intake of fish and marine omega-3 fatty acids seems to
provide protection against the development of heart failure as well as reducing
the mortality of manifest heart failure. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2012.
Vitamin C
Plasma vitamin C, but not vitamin E, is
associated with reduced risk of heart failure in older men. Circ Heart Fail.
2013.
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with heart dysfunction, sudden cardiac death,
and death due to heart failure. An association between vitamin D deficiency and
heart trouble is physiologically plausible since vitamin D is known to affect
contractility of the heart.
Arginine may prolong
exercise capacity in those with congestive heart failure.
Arginine
supplements are available over the counter.
Carnitine
is potentially helpful since the heart uses carnitine for energy production.
Carnitine has been tested in cardiomyopathy.
Carnosine has been studied.
Nutrition. 2015. Effects of oral administration of orodispersible
levo-carnosine on quality of life and exercise performance in patients with
chronic heart failure. This study suggests that L-carnosine, added to
conventional therapy, has beneficial effects on exercise performance and quality
of life in stable CHF.
CoQ10 may be beneficial in heart failure,
but use less than 50 mg.
Garlic consumption improves blood flow and circulation.
Folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6
can help prevent reoccurrence of blocked arteries in patients who have undergone coronary angioplasty.
Psyllium fiber may
help reduce cholesterol levels.
Magnesium mineral may help.
Ribose may be beneficial to individuals with congestive
heart failure.
Taurine amino acid has
been evaluated with some preliminary positive findings.
Astragalus
has been studied in heart failure.
Hawthorn
helps dilate blood vessels,
increases coronary flow, acts as an inotrope (stimulates heart contraction), decreases
peripheral resistance, and has ACE-inhibitor-like effect. Daily dosage hawthorn
berry herb 3 to 5g or 160 to 900 mg
extract for a few weeks.
Appears to be useful in mild heart failure.
Natural Treatment for Heart Failure research
Cutting calories slows
age-related changes in the heart's genes that lead to chronic disease. Reduce caffeine from coffee, tea, and guarana. Avoid stimulants of any
sort.
Heart failure patients who are even mildly depressed may have a poorer
prognosis than others with the heart ailment. Eating fish that is broiled or baked seems to reduce the risk of
developing an irregular rhythm of the heart's upper chambers, called
atrial fibrillation. However, eating fried fish or fish sandwiches doesn't
cut it.
Exercise training boosts the longevity of patients with
heart failure.
Arginine and Heart Failure
L-arginine is a precursor of nitric oxide, a compound
that plays a key role in the heart and circulatory system, both at rest and
during exercise. Nitric oxide helps the inner lining of blood vessels to dilate.
Dysfunction of the "L-arginine-nitric oxide" pathway in heart failure leads to
reduced blood flow at rest and during exercise, partly explaining the exercise
capacity limitations of chronic heart failure patients. Dr. Stephane Doutreleau
and colleagues from Institut de Physiologie, Strasbourg, France, examined the
potential benefits of 6 weeks of L-arginine supplementation on endurance
exercise in 10 patients with chronic stable heart failure and compared to a
placebo group. Patients who took L-arginine experienced a significant decrease
in their average heart rate throughout exercise and the recovery period. There
were no significant changes in blood pressure and respiratory parameters. The
current study supports a prior study in which a group of heart failure patients
were shown to benefit from a combination of exercise and L-arginine supplements.
In that study, the combination appeared to help correct the abnormal functioning
of blood vessels seen in chronic heart failure. International Journal of Sports
Medicine 2006.
L-arginine supplementation prolongs duration of exercise in congestive
heart failure.
Kardiol Pol. 2004.
In congestive heart failure, endothelial dysfunction may contribute to
impairment of exercise induced vasodilatation and decreased exercise capacity.
We hypothesised that administration of L- arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide
(NO) and postulated antioxidant, may improve endothelium - dependent
vasodilatation and exercise capacity and also exert antioxidant activity.
To investigate the effect of oral supplementation with L-arginine on exercise
capacity and markers of oxidative stress in patients with mild to moderate heart
failure. The study had a randomised double-blind cross-over design.
Twenty one patients with stable NYHA II-III heart failure underwent three
exercise tests: initially, after oral administration of L-arginine (9 g/day for
7 days) or placebo. Blood was sampled prior to each test for plasma lipid
peroxides, reduced sulphydryl groups and leukocyte oxygen free radical
production. We found a higher prolongation of exercise duration time
after L-arginine than after placebo. There were
no significant differences in markers of free radical activity. In
patients with chronic stable congestive heart failure, oral supplementation with
L-arginine prolongs exercise duration which may be due to NO-induced peripheral
vasodilatation. The antioxidant properties of L-arginine have not been confirmed
in this ex vivo study.
Fish oils as good or better than Crestor stating medication
Daily supplements of fish oil reduced deaths and hospitalizations of people with
heart failure. But a cholesterol-lowering statin drug had no beneficial
effect. The omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) study was done by a consortium of 357
Italian cardiology centers, and enlisted more than 7,000 people diagnosed
with heart failure. Half took a daily capsule containing fish oil, the
other half took a capsule with a placebo. The death rate in the fish oil
group was 27 percent, compared to 29 percent in the placebo group. The statin
trial included
more than 4,500 people with heart failure, half of whom took the statin
rosuvastatin (Crestor), while the other half took a placebo. The death
rate was 29 percent in the statin group, 28 percent in the placebo
group. Lancet, 2008.
Psyllium reduces cardiac risk
An article published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that supplementing the diet with psyllium fiber has positive effects on blood lipids while potentially
cardiovascular risk. Sixty-eight adults with high cholesterol consumed a
high-fiber and a control diet for 1 month each in a randomized crossover study.
The high-fiber diet
included 4 servings per day of foods containing psyllium that delivered 8 g per
day of soluble fiber than did similar, unsupplemented foods in the control diet.
Fasting blood samples and blood pressure readings were obtained at baseline and
weeks 2 and 4, and the subjects' weight was monitored weekly. Compared with the
control diet, the high-fiber diet reduced total cholesterol levels. Applying the
Framingham cardiovascular disease risk equation to the data confirmed a
reduction in risk of 4 percent. Small reductions in blood pressure were found
after both diets. The subjects reported no significant differences in
palatability or gastrointestinal symptoms between the diets.
Even though the reduction of cholesterol was small, it was nevertheless a
positive response. Adding psyllium to the diet, for instance about a teaspoon in
a glass of water two or three times a day with meals will help reduce
cholesterol and also helps regulate bowel movements.
Magnesium good for heart patients
Patients with heart disease are
often placed on several medicines including beta-blockers and nitrates, but
doctors rarely think about suggesting mineral supplements. In a study published
in the American Journal of Cardiology, researchers enrolled 187 patients with
heart disease to try oral magnesium and compare the results with those on
placebo pills. The dose of magnesium was about 200 mg twice daily and it was in
the form of magnesium citrate. At the beginning of the study, blood magnesium
levels were similar in both groups, but increased significantly in those who
took the magnesium supplements. After six months of treatment, those taking
magnesium were found to have a significant improvement in the amount of time
they could exercise without chest pain, but there were no changes in cholesterol
levels between the two groups.
Dr. Sahelian says: In patients who are already taking heart medicines and
still have not had the best results possible, it seems that magnesium is a safe,
cheap, and effective natural mineral to add to the regimen. The ideal dose of
magnesium is not known, but it would seem reasonable to take 100 to 200 mg twice
daily.
Efficacy and safety of
berberine for
congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated
cardiomyopathy.
Am J Cardiol. 2003.
This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of berberine
for chronic congestive heart failure. One hundred fifty-six patients with
CHF and >90 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and/or nonsustained
ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 24-hour Holter monitoring were randomly
divided into 2 groups. All patients were given conventional therapy for
congestive heart failure, consisting of angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, and nitrates. Patients in the treatment
group were also given berberine 1.2 to 2 g/day. The remaining
patients were given placebo. Symptoms, a 6-minute walk test, left
ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), frequency and complexity of VPCs,
and quality of life were assessed after 8 weeks of treatment and during a
mean 24-month follow-up. After treatment with berberine, there was a
significantly greater increase in LVEF, exercise capacity, improvement of
the dyspnea-fatigue index, and a decrease of frequency and complexity of
VPCs compared with the control group. There was a significant decrease in
mortality in the berberine-treated patients during long-term follow-up. Proarrhythmia was not observed, and there were no apparent side effects.
Thus, berberine improved quality of life and decreased VPCs and mortality
in patients with congestive heart failure.
Exercise for heart failure
Just 30 minutes of exercise twice a week can reduce the risk of hospitalization
or death in heart failure patients, according to study findings presented at the
March 2009 annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. With more
exercise, the benefit is even greater. Walking at a rate of 2 miles per hour for
30 minutes a few times a week will make a difference. Yoga practice could be of
benefit.
Moderate exercise may help boost
sexual health and
function in men with heart failure. The
results may be good news for some men with
erectile
dysfunction, because Viagra and other similar
impotence drugs can have
dangerous interactions with medications commonly prescribed to treat heart
failure.
Prolonged and sustained endurance training prevents stiffening of the
heart, a condition associated with the onset of heart failure, according to
researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. The researchers also
report that a sedentary lifestyle, in addition to aging, puts older people at
risk for heart failure, the leading cause of hospitalizations for patients over
65 and a condition that affects eight out of every 1,000 people older than 70.
Commuting to work on your own two feet, or while spinning two
wheels, could help stave off this condition.And if your job keeps you active
during the day too, even better. Journal of the American College of
Cardiology, 2010.
Benefit of a yoga program
Yoga in heart failure patients: a pilot study.
J Card Fail. 2010.
Fifteen stable HF patients were recruited and completed 8 weeks of
yoga classes. Data collected were: safety (cardiac and orthopedic adverse
events); physical function (strength, balance, endurance, flexibility); and
psychological function (quality of life [QOL], depression scores, mindfulness)
before and after 8 weeks of yoga classes. No participant had any adverse events.
Endurance and strength significantly improved, so did balance. Although no
subject was depressed, overall mood was improved. Subjects subjectively reported
improvements in overall well-being. Yoga practice was safe, with participants
experiencing improved physical function and symptom stability.
Causes of heart failure
Coronary artery
disease, previous heart attack, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease,
arrhythmia, drugs and certain medications, alcohol, aortic stenosis, mitral or aortic regurgitation, pulmonary
hypertension. Use of a class of painkillers known as nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by patients with chronic heart failure is
associated with increased risk of death and cardiovascular illness.
The risk of
developing heart failure increases with a person's weight: rising slightly in those who
are only slightly overweight, and eventually doubling in those who are obese.
The use of sleeping pills increases the risk of serious heart problems and
death.
For elderly people, just a couple of alcoholic drinks a day can have adverse effects on heart function.
Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2014. Risk of heart failure following treatment with dopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease patients. Dopamine agonists (DAs) are frequently used to treat early or advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. They have been shown to be efficacious for the treatment of motor symptoms and for delaying levodopa-induced dyskinesias. However, their utilization is limited by the risk of adverse drug reactions, some of which affect the cardiovascular system. Recently, the US FDA identified a possible association between exposure to pramipexole and the risk of heart failure. There is risk following use of pramipexole or cabergoline. Although the effects of cabergoline may be explained by the induction of cardiac valve fibrosis, the basis for the significantly increased risk associated with pramipexole is unclear.
Those who compete in triathlons could be putting their hearts at risk. Excessive exercise can cause scarring of the heart, known as myocardial fibrosis which could eventually lead to heart failure and irregular heartbeats.
Medications that increase risk for heart failure
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
like ibuprofen or naproxen can cause sodium and water retention and antagonize
the effects of heart failure medications. Additionally, OTC medications like
pseudoephedrine, which many cough and cold products contain, can increase blood
pressure and afterload. The risks these drugs pose becomes even greater when
they are taken at higher doses.
The oral hypoglycemic agent metformin should be used in patients
with unstable heart failure or those hospitalized for this condition. Other
prescription drugs listed as potentially having a major impact on causing or
worsening heart failure include the antihypertensive drugs diltiazem, verapamil,
and moxonidine, the tumor necrosis factor–inhibitors that are widely used to
treat rheumatologic and gastroenterologic diseases, the antipsychotic clozapine,
and a long list of anticancer medications, including several anthracyclines and
many types of newer biologic agents.
Use of prescription-strength ibuprofen, naproxen and other commonly used pain relievers may be tied to a higher risk of heart failure.
For patients with existing heart failure, use of NSAIDs should either be avoided or withdrawn when possible.
Prescription drugs listed as potentially having a major impact on causing or worsening heart failure include the antihypertensive drugs diltiazem, verapamil, and moxonidine, the tumor necrosis factor–inhibitors that are widely used to treat rheumatologic and gastroenterologic diseases, the antipsychotic clozapine, and a long list of anticancer medications, including several anthracyclines and many types of newer biologic agents.
S
ymptom and signIs vomiting a symptom of congestive heart failure?
It can be, although nausea is more common. Vomiting would indicate a more serious
condition.
The medical treatment of Congestive Heart Failure
often includes
Salt restriction
Aspirin is a more cost-effective way to treat
patients at risk of having a second heart attack or stroke than the new drug Plavix
(clopidogrel), but may lead to more hospitalizations. Perhaps a lesser dose
should be tried.
Diuretics are often
helpful
Angiotension-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
Beta blockers
Natrecor (nesiritide) -- 2005 -- A panel of heart experts has recommended
limited use of Johnson & Johnson's heart drug Natrecor (nesiritide) and backed
the company's plan to conduct additional clinical trials. J&J had requested the
panel to meet to evaluate all data on the heart failure drug after reports
surfaced that it increased the rate of kidney failure and death.
A mechanical device that restores a failing heart's ability to pump blood contributes to a decline in memory and thinking in some patients. Left ventricular assist devices are surgically implanted in patients with advanced heart failure who are awaiting a heart transplant or unable to receive one. More than one in four patients who receive such a device experienced a notable decline in their ability to remember, plan and solve problems, and about one-third of patients with the devices experienced death, diminished quality of life or poor health after receiving the implan. The losses in brain function stem from major, minor and mini-strokes that occur due to blood clots caused by the devices; 2015, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Heart failure with diabetes
Cardiomyopathy
Q. I have a condition known as cardiomyopathy and my doctor has me on prescribed
medicines such as pradaxa, lanoxin, vestar, lipitor, lasix, and aldactone. Which
supplements do you recommend.
A. Your doctor knows your condition best and I am not able to
provide specific advice.