Congestive Heart Failure
What is congestive heart failure?
Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot
pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the needs of the body's other
organs. The heart keeps pumping, but not as efficiently as a healthy
heart. Usually, the loss in the heart's pumping action is a symptom
of an underlying heart problem.
What causes congestive heart failure?
Congestive heart failure may result from any/all of the following:
- heart valve disease - caused by past rheumatic fever or other
infections
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- infections of the heart valves and/or heart muscle (i.e.,
endocarditis)
- previous heart attack(s) (myocardial infarction) - scar tissue
from previous attacks may interfere with the heart muscle's
ability to work normally
- coronary artery disease - narrowed arteries that supply blood
to the heart muscle
- cardiomyopathy - or another primary disease of the heart muscle
- congenital heart disease/defects (present at birth)
- cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
- chronic lung disease and pulmonary embolism
- drug-induced heart failure
How does congestive heart failure affect the body?
Congestive heart failure interferes with the kidney's normal
function of eliminating excess sodium and waste from the body.
In congestive heart failure, the body retains more fluid - resulting
in swelling of the ankles and legs. Fluid may also collect in
the lungs - resulting in shortness of breath.
What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?
The following are the most common symptoms of congestive heart
failure. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
Symptoms may include:
- visible swelling of the legs and ankles (due to a build-up
of fluid), and, occasionally, the abdomen
- shortness of breath during rest or exercise
- loss of appetite and nausea
- persistent cough - often produces mucus or blood-tinged sputum
The severity of the condition and symptoms depends on how much
of the heart's pumping capacity has been lost.
The symptoms of congestive heart failure may resemble other conditions
or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
How is congestive heart failure diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination,
diagnostic procedures for congestive heart failure may include
any, or a combination of, the following:
- chest x-ray - a diagnostic test which uses invisible
electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues,
bones, and organs onto film.
- electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - a test that records
the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms
(arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle damage.
- echocardiogram (Also called echo.) - a noninvasive
test that uses sound waves to produce a study of the motion
of the heart's chambers and valves. The echo sound waves create
an image on the monitor as an ultrasound transducer is passed
over the heart.
Treatment for congestive heart failure:
Specific treatment for congestive heart failure will be determined
by your physician based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
The cause of the congestive heart failure will dictate the treatment
protocol established. If the heart failure is caused by a valve
disorder, then surgery is usually performed. If the heart failure
is caused by a disease, such as anemia, then the disease is treated.
And, although there is no cure for heart failure due to a damaged
heart muscle, many forms of treatment have proven to be successful.
The goal of treatment is to improve a person's quality of life
by making the appropriate lifestyle changes and implementing drug
therapy.
Treatment of congestive heart failure may include:
- controlling risk factors
- losing weight (if overweight)
- restricting salt and fat from the diet
- stop smoking
- abstaining from alcohol
- proper rest
- medication, such as:
- digitalis- to increase heart contractions
- angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - to decrease
the pressure inside the blood vessels
- diuretics- to reduce the amount of fluid in the body
- vasodilators- to dilate the blood vessels
- heart transplantation
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