Heart Failure Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is heart failure management?
Heart failure management is a structured, ongoing plan for living well with heart failure. It combines medicines that support the heart, a daily routine you carry out at home, and regular reviews in which your cardiologist adjusts treatment as your condition changes. The aim is to ease breathlessness and swelling, keep you active, and reduce the chance of a sudden worsening that needs a hospital stay.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, heart failure management is led by the cardiology team. The plan is built around your type of heart failure, its cause, your other health conditions and your daily life, and it is shared with your family so everyone knows what to watch for.
Who needs it
Heart failure management is for adults who have been diagnosed with heart failure, usually after an echocardiogram, and for people whose heart failure has recently led to a hospital admission. Common causes include coronary artery disease, a previous heart attack, long-standing high blood pressure, heart valve disease and an irregular heart rhythm.
In the UAE, diabetes and high blood pressure are among the most common drivers of heart failure, so controlling them is part of the plan from the start. Blood pressure care is described on the hypertension management page, and the wider picture of heart conditions is on the Cardiology page.
What happens
Your first appointment reviews your symptoms, your echocardiogram and your blood tests, including kidney function and salts in the blood, which guide medicine choices. Your cardiologist explains the type of heart failure you have and what is causing it.
Treatment usually brings together several groups of medicines, each with a different job. Some help the heart pump more efficiently over time, some protect it from strain, some slow a fast heart rate, and water tablets clear excess fluid that causes breathlessness and ankle swelling. These medicines are usually started at a low dose and increased step by step, with blood tests between steps, until each reaches the level that gives the most benefit.
Alongside medicines, your team agrees a personal plan covering:
- A daily weight log, recorded each morning, with a clear rise your team defines that means you should call
- Salt intake and, where needed, a daily fluid allowance set by your cardiologist
- Control of diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol
- Vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal infection, since chest infections can tip heart failure into a crisis
- Safe, regular activity, often through a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme
For some people, a device such as a special pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator, or a procedure to treat the underlying cause, is considered. Where this applies, your cardiologist explains the reasons and arranges referral to a centre that provides it.
Preparing for it
Bring every medicine you take, in its original packaging, including supplements and herbal remedies, since some worsen heart failure or interact with heart medicines. Bring discharge letters, echocardiogram reports and recent blood results.
Start a simple diary before your appointment: your weight each morning, how far you can walk before getting breathless, how many pillows you sleep on, and any swelling in your ankles. Bring a family member if you can, because the people you live with play a big part in the daily routine.
If you are planning to fast during Ramadan, raise it well before Ramadan begins, so your cardiologist can review whether fasting is safe for you and adjust medicine timings.
Afterwards
Heart failure management continues over years, with reviews more frequent while medicines are being adjusted and spaced further apart once you are stable. Blood tests check kidney function and blood salts after dose changes. Many people feel more energetic and less breathless as treatment takes effect. In the UAE summer, heat and sweating change your fluid balance, so ask your team how to adjust your routine in hot weather and during travel.
Contact the hospital if your weight rises by the amount your team has set, if ankle swelling or breathlessness increases, if you feel dizzy or faint on standing, or if you are vomiting or have diarrhoea and cannot keep medicines down. Call emergency services or go to the emergency department straight away if you are breathless at rest, wake up gasping for breath, cough up frothy or pink sputum, have chest pain, or faint.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover heart failure consultations, echocardiograms, blood tests and long-term medicines, although some medicines need pre-approval or are limited to a formulary list. Devices and procedures arranged through referral require separate approval. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Can heart failure be cured?
Heart failure is usually a long-term condition that is managed rather than cured, although treating the cause, such as a valve problem or a fast heart rhythm, can sometimes improve heart function substantially. With the right medicines and daily routine, many people live active lives for many years.
What are the risks and side effects of heart failure medicines?
Heart failure medicines can cause dizziness, tiredness, changes in kidney function or changes in potassium levels, which is why blood tests are checked after dose changes. Water tablets can cause dehydration if you become unwell. Do not stop or change a heart failure medicine without advice, because stopping suddenly can make symptoms return quickly.
Why do I need to weigh myself every day?
Daily weighing detects fluid building up in the body before you notice breathlessness or swelling. A sudden rise over a few days usually means fluid, not fat, and acting early by calling your team often prevents a hospital admission.
How much salt and fluid can I have with heart failure?
Most people with heart failure are advised to limit salt, because salt makes the body hold on to fluid. Some people also need a daily fluid allowance. Your cardiologist sets the amounts for you, since the right level depends on your heart function, kidneys and medicines.
Can I fast during Ramadan with heart failure?
Some people with stable heart failure can fast safely with adjusted medicine timings, while others are advised not to fast because of the risk of dehydration and kidney changes. Discuss it with your cardiologist well before Ramadan so a safe plan can be agreed.
Can I exercise with heart failure?
Regular, moderate exercise is usually safe and helpful for people with stable heart failure, and it can improve energy and breathlessness. A supervised programme such as cardiac rehabilitation is the safest way to start, and your cardiologist advises what suits you.
Is heart failure treatment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover heart failure consultations, tests and long-term medicines, though some medicines need pre-approval and devices or procedures require separate approval. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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