GUARD YOUR HEART DILIGENTLY.

The New York Heart Association developed the following classification system to grade CHF by severity of symptoms:

Class I. No limitation of physical activity. No shortness of breath, fatigue, or heart palpitations with ordinary physical activity.
Class II. Slight limitation of physical activity. Shortness of breath, fatigue, or heart palpitations with ordinary physical activity, but patients are comfortable at rest.
Class III. Marked limitation of activity. Shortness of breath, fatigue, or heart palpitations with less than ordinary physical activity, but patients are comfortable at rest.
Class IV. Severe to complete limitation of activity. Shortness of breath, fatigue, or heart palpitations with any physical exertion and symptoms appear even at rest.
Conventional and Complementary Treatment Options
Current CHF treatment options include both conventional and complementary approaches. Because this article focuses on natural agents for the treatment of CHF, we will consider only briefly conventional treatment of CHF.
Conventional Treatment
CHF is a particularly difficult malady, as no single drug can fully relieve its symptoms. The first step in managing CHF is to treat the primary conditions causing the disease. These typically include one or more of the following: coronary artery disease, valvular abnormalities, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, anemia, and thyroid dysfunction. Treating heart failure itself as early as possible offers the best chance for a longer and better-quality life.
Several classes of medication are used to treat heart failure: diuretics (which reduce fluid), ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors (which open blood vessels), beta-blockers (which slow heart rate), digoxin (which increases the heart’s ability to contract), and vasodilators (agents that open blood vessels). Diuretics and ACE inhibitors have the best track record to date for treating CHF patients.
Depending on the severity of the damage and dysfunction, interventional procedures may be necessary, including balloon angioplasty, coronary stenting, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, pacemaker insertion, and heart transplantation.
Complementary Treatment
Complementary approaches to treating CHF include lifestyle modifications and alternative remedies or natural agents. First of all, the patient must be aggressive about maintaining a healthy, optimal weight to reduce unnecessary strain on the heart. Individuals with CHF must avoid heavy alcohol intake and restrict their salt intake. With worsening heart function, it may be necessary to limit sodium intake to 2 grams per day and ingestion of water to 1.5–2 liters per day. CHF patients also are advised to increase their use of monounsaturated oils, such as extra virgin olive oil,3 foods high in essential fatty acids,4-8 and fruits, vegetables,9-11 and fiber.12 Patients may be advised to increase their intake of garlic, onions, and celery, as these foods have been shown to lower blood pressure.
Supplementation with essential nutrients is critical for patients suffering from CHF. Vitamins and other nutrients serve as bioenergy carriers to millions of heart muscle cells. The natural approach focuses on improving myocardial energy production. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the value of vitamins and other nutrients in treating conditions such as shortness of breath, edema, and other symptoms of CHF. The most comprehensive clinical studies have tested coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and carnitine, both carrier molecules of bioenergy in the heart.13,14