Diet and exercise to reverse heart failure/weak heart in 20yo

ThatDoll
ThatDoll Posts: 37 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So yesterday my cardiologist told me that at 20 years old I'm having [or might have] some type of heart failure. She told me my heart isn't contracting all the way and told me I basically have a weak heart. She thinks it's because my heart beats too fast at times and it has caused it to get weaker. idk so I googled it and got scared so now I'm here lol
I found a page that said most people don't make it past 5 years after getting diagnosed and it really bummed me out :/
So here I am trying to see what diet will help strengthen my heart! Please help me come up with a "diet" (more like lifestyle change) that will help me make it till my 50s at least!
I am starting Coreg 3.125mg (in 5 mins) to slow down my heart beat and lower my bp (got diagnosed with hbp at 19)
I weigh 167lbs right now and I am 5'8. I need to lose weight urgently so my heart won't be overworking due to all the extra weight I'm carrying.
All the people here that have had heart problems, specially heart failure, please give me hope and advice on how to take care of my heart to see if I can reverse this or at least slow it down.

Replies

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    You can get support here, but you are also asking for medical advice, which you should not seek here. Has your cardiologist referred you to a dietitian?
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    I can't speak to your specific situation, but I was seeing resting heart rates in the 90s for a while, but after several months of riding a bicycle, I got my heart rate down to 47. Of course, having a normal weight helps also, since your heart doesn't have to work as hard to move blood around your body.
  • ThatDoll
    ThatDoll Posts: 37 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    You can get support here, but you are also asking for medical advice, which you should not seek here. Has your cardiologist referred you to a dietitian?

    I'm not seeking medical advice per say. I'm just looking for nutrition guidance. My cardio was very vague and told me just to drink the pills. I asked her if exercise affected it and she said no.
  • vadimknobel
    vadimknobel Posts: 165 Member
    you should definetely watch your sodium and limit it to 2 g/day. with high bp look into the DASH diet. also talk to your cardiologist so that you understand your condition better, maybe take a parent or a trusted friend to the appointment with you.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    ThatDoll wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    You can get support here, but you are also asking for medical advice, which you should not seek here. Has your cardiologist referred you to a dietitian?

    I'm not seeking medical advice per say. I'm just looking for nutrition guidance.

    You're asking for nutritional advice to treat a medical problem, and that's something which can do more harm than good. I suggest seeing a Registered Dietician.

    To lose weight, simply get into a slight calorie deficit. :+1:
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Go back to your dr, ask for more specific advice if you think you need it. Make a list of questions and take it with you. Or seek a second opinion if you have doubts about what this dr is telling you. Do not use dr google and do not ask strangers for medical advice. In the best case, you will panic over nothing, in worst case you will get advice that might be useful for someone else but dangerous for you.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    There are many types of conditions referred to as 'heart failure.' Some can be reversed and some cannot. Ask doc for more details and WHY exercise or diet won't help. Also consider seeing a different cardiologist if you're not satisfied with the info you're getting.
  • macdingolinger
    macdingolinger Posts: 4 Member
    I supposedly have CHF too. Dr. Google can be a scary place! Lol But some sites like the American Heart Association have good advice. I downloaded a "rise above HF" chart that helped me gain better perception of my symptoms and develop a plan to attempt to keep them at bay. Would like to find a CHF group as I am still only level 1 or 2 and want to avoid worsening symptoms- I have lost 17 pounds, that helps a lot- and I am managing my water retention with my diet.
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    167lbs at 5'8" is at the top end of the BMI scale (or just over), but certainly not extremely overweight. how much are you hoping to lose?
  • Amberonamission
    Amberonamission Posts: 836 Member
    This is a serious situation that only a doctor should advise you on. I am surprised that you didn't get more instruction from your cardiologist. You can use cardio training to strengthen your heart muscle but is your heart strong enough to handle it?
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    Ask your cardio questions. If this is just your regular dr find and go to a proper specialist.
    As for "Dr. Google" try to limit your medical advice to sites like the AHA or NIH's Medline. Medline is my personal favorite. It's good scientifically based information, no comments section to give voice to armchair doctors and tends to be a sound starting point.
    Getting advice like on exercise and diet on a main board like this is fine if you're healthy, but in your case if check out the groups for ppl who have a similar diagnosis. They will at least know the basics. Good luck, I expect you to check in on year 6.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Stop googling and self diagnosing

    Go back to your cardiologist with a list of questions
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    I'm sorry you're 5'8 and 167? That's not risky

    I'm same height and 160 at goal weight

    Did cardio say this was due to weight , advise you to drop weight? Arrange next meeting?

    Where are your parents? What have they said?

    Something feels wrong about this thread
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,301 Member
    I second all the votes that you consult someone to guide you personally. I came to a nutritionist very late in life, I don't have heart issues though family members do. I can honestly recommend knowing what your body actually needs. I spent too long in an ill advised place because of general medics who were tied to the "accepted" advice which was not person specific. Five weeks with "my" changes and good differences are establishing. All the very best to you.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited October 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    There are many types of conditions referred to as 'heart failure.' Some can be reversed and some cannot. Ask doc for more details and WHY exercise or diet won't help. Also consider seeing a different cardiologist if you're not satisfied with the info you're getting.

    Definitely this. Some types of heart failure are accelerated by exercise. Don't guess at what you have - this is one where some hand waving can do a lot of damage.
  • momof3and3
    momof3and3 Posts: 656 Member
    I would seek a second opinion, or even a third. There has to be an underlying cause...do you have POTS, heart block, cardio myopathy, etc? Did dr do extensive testing: a tilt test, a stress test, non-stress test, echocardiogram, even exploratory surgery. Is it congestive heart failure where you are filling with fluid? There are many reasons, causes and solutions to heart issues, but what works for one issue, might not be good and can cause harm for another. For instance, my DIL has severe heart issues, at age of 26 she has a pace maker, has to take sodium pills, cannot run but is supposed to swim, has to drink plenty of water, and has to wear compression girdle. But her dietary needs haven't changed. You really need to go back to your dr, or find someone else. My DIL saw 3 different cardiologists, the first told her, her symptoms were all in her head...the 3rd dr is who finally said to her "you are not crazy, this is what you have". It took over a year for her to get a diagnosis.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    I'd strongly, strongly suggest speaking to your Doctor about your diet. He/She will refer you to a nutritionist that will help you with your eating plan. It is absolutely vital, given your current heart condition, that you do not restrict and strain your heart or body. Also - step away from Google. You may need to have a longer, in-depth conversation with your Dr about your exact condition and the effects it will have on you.

    Wishing you the best of luck and know this, MFP has your back :)

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