Congestive Heart Failure and Eye Effects | American Heart Month

How well your cardiovascular system functions can impact your overall health, including your vision and eye health. February is American Heart Month. It is the perfect reminder to take care of our heart health and lower our risk of different cardiac conditions. For instance, congestive heart failure (CHF) is one condition that can impact your vision.

The article below takes a look at what CHF involves and how it may impact vision and treatment options. 
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What is CHF

When we hear the term heart failure, we might think it means the heart stops, but that is not true. Still, heart failure means the heart is not working as well as it should. The heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body is impaired.

When the heart does not pump blood as well as it should, it can create a variety of symptoms, such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the feet and legs
• Fatigue
• Exercise intolerance
• Coughing
• Irregular heartbeat

Heart failure can develop for a few reasons, such as past damage to the heart from a previous heart attack. 
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The eyes and heart failure

If your heart is not pumping blood as well as it should, it can affect most areas of the body, and that can include the eyes. Lack of blood flow to the retina can eventually damage the blood vessels that supply the optic nerve and retina. Vision problems may not show up for years, but over time, heart damage can increase a person’s risk of developing optic neuropathy. 
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How to protect vision 

If you have congestive heart failure, you may be at an increased risk of eye problems. It is important to take certain steps to decrease your risk as much as possible. Consider the following suggestions:

Have regular eye exams: One of the best things you can do to maintain good vision if you have heart failure is to have regular eye exams. Regular exams can help spot and treat problems early.

Rule out eye diseases: Not all eye conditions are due to heart problems. People with heart failure can still develop typical eye problems, such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Watch salt intake: Too much salt can lead to water retention and may increase puffy eyes. Follow your doctor’s recommendation for how much salt you can have.

Follow your doctor’s CHF treatment plan: Your treatment plan may include a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. By following your treatment plan, you may be able to slow the progression of heart failure and maximize your heart function. 
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General treatment or CHF

Treating congestive heart failure not only can improve quality of life but it can also help promote overall health. When your heart functions better, it affects your entire body, including your eyes. Possible treatment for congestive heart failure includes:

Lifestyle changes: Making healthy lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise, eating a heart-healthy diet, and not smoking, are important ways to deal with CHF.

Medications: Medication is one of the main ways to treat CHF. Different types of medications may be used. For instance, ACE inhibitors help lower blood pressure, which reduces the strain on the heart and may help it beat stronger. Beta-blockers may also be used to slow heart rate and decrease symptoms of CHF. 

We hope the information above on CHF was helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, we are happy to help. Also, if you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.