Heart failure is a global health crisis affecting at least 26 million people, according to estimates from the World Health Organization, the World Heart Federation, and the American Heart Association — and its prevalence is rising. Doctors are now pointing to four common lifestyle habits that place serious strain on the heart, warning that changing them can make a measurable difference.
In brief
- —Heart failure affects at least 26 million people worldwide
- —Four habits — salt, inactivity, smoking/alcohol, stress — strain the heart
- —Remission is possible with treatment and lifestyle changes
A condition affecting 26 million people — and still spreading
Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped. It means the heart is no longer pumping efficiently enough to deliver oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to the body’s cells. The result is a cascade of symptoms: persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, and sometimes a chronic cough.
