“Heart failure is the fastest growing heart disease in the Netherlands, but the symptoms appear not to be recognized or recognized until late. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and fluid retention are regularly confused with other diseases, stress or general complaints of old age”, according to the Heart Foundation.
Wegwuiven
“We notice in practice that patients weaken or dismiss the complaints and look for other explanations, such as ‘it must be the age’, ‘I have been too busy lately.’ the light that it is heart failure, “says GP and researcher Frans Rutten.
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In heart failure, the heart does not circulate enough blood. As a result, organs do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients and waste products are poorly removed. With a blood test and a heart film, the doctor can test whether complaints are caused by heart failure, according to the foundation. Early treatment can greatly improve a person and eventually live longer.
Cause
Younger people can also have heart failure. Heart failure always has a cause, such as a previous heart attack, a malfunctioning heart valve or long-term high blood pressure. It often occurs in combination with another condition, such as COPD or diabetes lung disease.
In the Netherlands there are 240,000 people registered with heart failure. The Heart Foundation will start a campaign next month to draw attention to the disease.
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