Global Heart Hub marks Heart Failure Awareness Month in May with awareness of heart failure and its comorbidities
Global Heart Hub (GHH), the international alliance of heart patient organisations, today launches its 2024 Heart Failure Awareness Campaign (May 1 – 31), along with heart failure patient organisations across the globe.
Heart Failure is a serious chronic condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to support the needs of other organs in the body. The most common causes of Heart Failure include coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack), congenital heart defects, or damaged heart valves.
Heart Failure often develops from, or leads to, other health conditions. These connected conditions are called comorbidities, and they need to be treated too. Led by the GHH’s Heart Failure Patient Council, the campaign this year focuses on heart failure comorbidities and the importance of managing heart failure and connected conditions.
What is a comorbidity?
A comorbidity is any coexisting health condition. Comorbid conditions are very common for people living with Heart Failure, even in younger age groups.
People living with Heart Failure often suffer from multiple comorbidities (cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular), such as an irregular heart rate or rhythm, high blood pressure, kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, iron deficiency, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. These are some of the most common comorbidities, but there are more.
Living with Heart Failure comorbidities can take a toll on your physical and mental health, but effective management is crucial for the best outcomes and better quality of life. “Early, coordinated treatment of heart failure comorbidities is key, so discuss comorbidity risks with your healthcare professional,” says Aistė Štaraitė, GHH’s Heart Failure Development Executive and Heart Failure survivor.
Learn more about the campaign here: https://globalhearthub.org/heart-failure-awareness-2024