Heart Failure | Congestive heart failure



Heart Failure is generally described as a long-term illness which happens when your heart does not pump enough blood as normal flow to function the body’s parts. Over a period of time, blood and fluids will collect in your lungs and legs. This will lead you to cause shortness of breath. Medications and other treatment methods will help you to manage symptoms like swelling. For many people, heart failure is a life-time illness.


Specific heart conditions will gradually leave your heart too weak or it makes it stiff to pump blood properly. These health conditions include having narrow arteries in the heart or having high blood pressure.


Prompt and proper treatment might improve the symptoms of heart failure and it may help people live longer peacefully. And changes in your lifestyle can improve the quality of life. You have to try to lose weight and do exercise and use less salt and manage stress.


But heart failure can be life-threatening for some people with this health condition. Some people with heart failure may experience severe symptoms. Some people require heart transplantation or a device which helps the heart pump blood.


Sometimes, heart failure is also known as congestive heart failure.


Types of congestive heart failure


Types are:


  • Left-sided heart failure.

  • Right-sided heart failure.

  • High-output heart failure. (rare type of congestive heart failure)


Symptoms

Heart failure symptoms are:


  • Shortness of breath.

  • Waking up short of breath at night.

  • Chest pain.

  • Heart palpitations.

  • Fatigue when you’re active.

  • Swelling in your ankles, legs and abdomen.

  • Weight gain.

  • Need to urinate while resting at night.

  • A dry, hacking cough.

  • bloated or hard stomach.

  • Loss of appetite or upset stomach or nausea.


Causes 


Causes of heart failure are:


  • Coronary artery disease and/or heart attack.

  • Cardiomyopathy which is genetic or viral.

  • Heart problems present at birth or congenital heart disease.

  • Diabetes.

  • High blood pressure or hypertension.

  • Arrhythmia.

  • Kidney disease.

  • A BMI higher than 30.

  • Tobacco and recreational drug use.

  • Alcohol use.

  • Medications like cancer drugs or chemotherapy.


Left sided heart failure is the common cause of right-sided heart failure. If your left ventricle does not work correctly then it allows blood to backup. At some stage, this backup will affect your right ventricle. Some other causes like lung problems and some issues in other organs.


Risk factors 


Some major factors that affects your heart functions are:


  • older than age 65.

  • Using tobacco products, cocaine or alcohol.

  • Having an inactive (sedentary) lifestyle.

  • Eating foods which have a lot of salt and fat.

  • Having high blood pressure.

  • coronary artery disease.

  • Having a heart attack.

  • family history of congestive heart failure.


Complications


Some complications are:


  • Irregular heartbeat.

  • Sudden cardiac arrest.

  • Heart valve problems.

  • A collection of fluid in your lungs.

  • Pulmonary hypertension.

  • Kidney damage.

  • Liver damage.

  • Malnutrition.


Diagnosis


Your provider is asking about your symptoms and your medical history. And also they ask you about:


  • Other health problems you have.

  • Having a family history of heart problems or sudden death.

  • Use of tobacco products.

  • How much alcohol you drink.

  • history of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

  • Some medications you take.


You can also undergo a physical examination. Your physician will look for heart failure symptoms and some other diseases which make your heart muscles weak or stiff.


Some other test to diagnose heart Failure


Some common tests which identify the heart failure and its stages and causes are:


  • Blood tests.

  • Cardiac catheterization.

  • Chest X-ray.

  • Echocardiogram.

  • Heart MRI - magnetic resonance imaging.

  • Cardiac computed tomography or CT.

  • Electrocardiogram or EKG or ECG.

  • Multigated Acquisition Scan or MUGA scan.

  • Stress test.

  • Genetic testing.


Treatments


Your treatment will depend on the type of heart failure you experience and how serious it is. But there is no proven cure for heart failure. But treatment will help you live longer with some symptoms.


Even if you have treatment for heart failure it can get worse over a period of time, so you will need treatment for the rest of your life.


Most treatment plans include:


  • Taking medicine

  • You have to eat less sodium and drinking less liquid which controls fluid buildup

  • Follow some changes like quitting smoking, managing stress and get more physical activity as your provider suggested.

  • Treating some conditions that may worse your heart failure


You may need heart surgery if:


  • You have a heart defect or damage to your heart which can be fixed.

  • The left side of your heart is weaker and put a device in your chest which can help.

  • Device are:

    • An implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

    • A biventricular pacemaker or cardiac resynchronization therapy.

    • A mechanical heart pump by a ventricular assist device (VAD) or a total artificial heart.

  • Generally, heart failure is a life-threatening illness so your cardiac specialist will suggest you do heart transplant. Nothing else is helpful for you.



Addition to your treatment, you have to give close attention to your symptoms because heart failure will suddenly become worse. Your healthcare provider may recommend a cardiac rehabilitation program which helps you learn how to manage your health condition.


Prevention


Some of the Things you can do to lesser the chance of getting heart failure are:


  • Maintaining at a weight that’s healthy for you.

  • Eating foods especially that are good for your heart.

  • Do Exercise regularly.

  • Manage your stress.

  • Quit tobacco products.

  • Not drinking alcohol.

  • Not using recreational drugs.

  • Take care of other health conditions which can increase your risk


Frequently Asked Questions


Q1. What are the 4 signs of heart failure?

Ans: You may have trouble breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swollen legs, neck veins that stick out, and sounds from fluid buildup in your lungs.


Q2. What is Stage 5 heart failure?

Ans: In the final stages of heart failure, people feel breathless both during activity and at rest. Persistent coughing or wheezing.

Q3. Can ECG detect heart failure?

Ans: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to assess the heart rate and rhythm. This test can often detect heart disease, heart attack, an enlarged heart, or abnormal heart rhythms that may cause heart failure.


Q4. What confirms heart failure?

Ans: A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure.


Q5. Which heart failure comes first?

Ans: Heart failure usually begins with the lower left heart chamber, called the left ventricle.

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