Title: Alcohol-related Heart Failure: Causes, Symptoms, and Management Liu, a 49-year-old man, has been drinking alcohol since his teenage years due to his father's influence. Over the years, he has developed an impressive tolerance for alcohol, and he also smokes a pack of cigarettes every day.
However, recently, Liu has noticed some health problems. He struggles to climb even a two-story building, experiences decreased appetite and swelling in his legs.
Concerned about these symptoms, Liu visits the hospital with his daughter. After a thorough examination, the doctor diagnoses Liu with alcohol-related heart failure. The doctor explains that individuals with a history of heavy drinking for more than five years, along with an enlarged and weakened heart, are at risk of alcohol-related heart failure.
1. Heart Failure in China: According to Dr. Tan Jing, an associate chief physician in the Cardiology Department of Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, there are nearly 10 million heart failure patients in China, with a prevalence rate of 1.3% in individuals over the age of 35.
2. Causes and Risk Factors: Heart failure can be caused by various factors, including primary myocardial damage such as dilated cardiomyopathy, as well as cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease, heart attack, arrhythmia, hypertension, and valvular heart disease.
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