When the Heart Loses Its Resilience: Analyzing the Pathology of Heart Failure, the Prospects of Heart Transplantation, and the Traps of "Salt of Life" Intake [i]

In Western countries, heart failure is a major health problem. 2.5% of people over 45 years of age suffer from heart failure. While the number of deaths from myocardial infarction has decreased significantly, statistics show a significant increase in deaths from heart failure, which is very worrying. Firstly, older people are more susceptible to this type of heart disease; therefore, as more people live longer, their likelihood of developing heart failure increases. Heart failure refers to a weakened pumping function of the heart, which lacks the strength to pump enough blood throughout the body. If the heart's blood supply is restricted, less blood is pumped out, and the amount of blood returning to the heart becomes blocked. This blood stagnates in the veins, is squeezed into surrounding tissues, or accumulates in organs (such as the lungs and liver) and other tissues. A typical symptom is compression of the jugular veins, resulting in noticeable bulging (edema) in the ankles and calves. The main symptom of heart failure is shortness of breath, but it may be asymptomatic for a long time. It may begin as shortness of breath during physical activity and then gradually progress. After a period of time, it develops into shortness of breath with even a little exertion, eventually even when not exerting any effort. Patients with heart failure often experience abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, constipation, and frequent urination at night due to impaired blood circulation. Increased fluid retention in tissues leads to weight gain, and the weakened heart gradually enlarges. The most common causes of heart failure are hypertension (20%) and coronary artery disease (50%). The remainder are caused by cardiomyopathy, valvular heart defects, or abnormal heart rates. Prolonged heavy alcohol consumption can also impair the heart's blood supply function. Although impaired cardiac blood supply is caused by disturbances in the cardiac circulatory system, if heart failure reaches a certain severity, it is considered an independent, incurable condition. Treatment for heart weakness includes: getting plenty of rest, reducing salt intake (to reduce fluid retention), drinking less water at night, maintaining a normal weight, and, in principle, limiting alcohol and water intake. Heart-strengthening medications can improve the heart's blood supply (e.g., glucosinolates, digitalis), vasodilators (which reduce the workload on the heart by decreasing vascular resistance), ACE inhibitors, and diuretics. If self-treatment and medication fail to improve heart function, a heart transplant is the only option. This surgery is performed skillfully in specialized medical centers with a high success rate. Two years after surgery, 80% of patients are still alive. Increased heart donations will increase the chances of this surgery. The era of salt being as precious as gold is over. Men with hypertension, heart failure, and kidney disease should first change their habit of adding salt to their food. Many studies show that most people currently consume too much salt, up to 10 times the normal requirement. Hidden salt can be found in canned and cooked foods, and even mineral water contains small amounts. Salt absorbs water from the body. Healthy bodies can regulate the normal ratio of salt and water. If this self-regulation is impaired, it should be treated by consuming a low-salt diet. The maximum daily salt intake for each person is 2400 mg. If intake is reduced to 1500 mg, systolic blood pressure (high value) can decrease by 1.2 kPa, and diastolic blood pressure (low value) can decrease by 0.6 kPa. Many seasonings such as cilantro, basil, dill, or chives can replace salt. The claim that track and field athletes experience salt deficiency due to excessive sweating during exercise is outdated. People who exercise regularly can store sufficient salt in their bodies; therefore, supplementing with salt or salt-containing fitness products is not very effective. The body needs water first after heavy sweating. It's also important to know that salt is an enemy of potassium. Potassium's role is to promote urination, and it is abundant in beans, lentils, bananas, spinach, and potatoes. Can antibiotics prevent myocardial infarction? The history of medicine is also a history of misunderstandings and failures. In 1882, Robert Koch successfully proved that bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) were the pathogen of tuberculosis. Before this, people believed that tuberculosis was caused by emaciation, malnutrition, and unclean air. It wasn't until it was confirmed that gastric ulcers were caused by Helicobacter pylori that a treatment for this disease, which had long been considered chronic, was truly found. [i]