The number of patients in Greece amounts to approximately 200,000 with heart failure, which is often the result of diseases that cause damage to the heart, such as coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, valvular diseases, congenital and other cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, etc.

Although today there are in the “therapeutic arsenal” innovative drugs, digital applications, minimally invasive methods, heart failure remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortalitybut also a financial threat to health systems.

The easy fatigue and the feeling of weakness, the shortness of breath, especially during fatigue and in more advanced stages of the disease shortness of breath even when resting, the swelling mainly of the lower limbs, the gastrointestinal disturbances, the feeling of dizziness and malaise are symptoms, which they raise suspicions of heart failure.

The symptoms these occur due to the inability of the heart to maintain a smooth supply of blood to the various organs of the body and for this reason the patient must undergo a check-up.

The above points out, on the occasion of World Heart Failure Awareness Week (May 1-7), the School of Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases of the 3rd Cardiology Clinic of AUTH, after a series of seminars on heart failure, through the records of cardiac patients .

Successful treatment of heart failure depends on its management primary cause, disease severity and management of other comorbidities. Pillars of heart failure diagnosis are initially the taking of history and the clinical examination. Other important tests that will document the diagnosis are electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, heart ultrasound and special blood tests. There are also more specialized tests that are done in the second year to diagnose the etiology of heart failure (e.g. coronary angiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, etc.).

The treatment options today they are pharmaceutical and interventional, which reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the lives of patients.

From the patients who attended the seminars, it emerged that they themselves have a central role in terms of therapeutic compliance, when they understand the therapeutic process they are called to support. It appeared that the compliant patient is the well-informed patient.

The self-care of the patient with heart failure includes a daily check:

  • of weight: its sudden increase can mean fluid accumulation and possible worsening of the disease,
  • blood pressure,
  • heart rate (beats),
  • the feeling of shortness of breath.

In self care include the exercise recommended by the attending physician, a salt-free, fat-free diet, no alcohol abuse and a smoke-free lifestyle.

Patients, for their self-care, can find new technologies that help in the automated measurement of parameters, such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, etc., a valuable ally. through smart phone and smart watch apps.

The 3rd Cardiology Clinic of AUTH offers the ThessHF mobile application free of charge for patients with heart failure. As it emerged from the school, an important role in the care of the patient appeared to be with him, his caregivers, who understand, remind and support his compliance.