|
|
|
 |
Congestive Heart Failure
This is an abbreviated version of the complete article.*
|
|
| Basic Facts |
|
Heart failure means that the heart's ability to pump blood or fill with blood is diminished. |
|
Approximately 5 million Americans have heart failure. |
|
Although some types of heart failure can be treated by surgery, most forms of congestive heart failure are life-long. |
|
The condition can be successfully treated with lifestyle adjustments and with medication. |
|
|
|
 |
| As the heart muscle weakens, the heart's pumping function decreases. Blood can back up into the lungs, liver, and other organs. |
|
|
Heart failure means that the heart muscle is weakened. A weakened heart muscle may not be strong enough to pump an adequate amount of blood out of its chambers. To compensate for its diminished pumping capacity, the heart may enlarge. Commonly, the heart's pumping inefficiency causes a buildup of blood in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary congestion.
Types of heart failure
- Left-sided Heart Failure - the left ventricle typically pumps out inadequate amounts of oxygenated blood to the rest of the body, and fluid backs up into the lungs.
- Right-sided Heart Failure - the resistance to blood flow through the lungs exceeds the right ventricle's ability to pump blood into the lungs. Consequently, blood backs up into the liver and other organs. The most common cause of right heart failure is actually left heart failure.
- Systolic Heart Failure - the heart's pumping function is depressed.
- Diastolic Heart Failure - the heart is unable to fill up with an adequate amount of blood. Diastolic heart failure usually occurs because the muscular heart wall thickens and stiffens. Abnormal thickening of the heart muscle wall, called hypertrophy, has many causes, the most common of which is hypertension. Less commonly, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may cause heart muscle to thicken.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The symptoms of heart failure often develop slowly because the body can compensate for early effects of the disease, thus the heart's function may diminish significantly without noticeable symptoms. Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea);
- Coughing;
- Swelling and weight gain; and
- Fatigue.
CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
Heart attacks are the most common cause of heart failure. Other causes include:
- Malfunction of the aortic, mitral, pulmonary or tricuspid valves;
- Uncontrolled or longstanding hypertension;
- Cancer therapies, such as radiation and chemotherapy;
- Certain treatments for AIDS;
- Viral or bacterial infections;
- Complications during pregnancy;
- Chronic alcohol abuse; and
- Idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown.
Conditions that increase the risk of heart failure include:
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Some diabetes medications, including rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos);
- Sleep apnea;
- Congenital heart defects; and
- Kidney conditions.
DIAGNOSIS
Typically, a physician diagnoses congestive heart failure by considering the person's medical history and performing a physical examination. The diagnosis is typically confirmed with chest x rays, which may show an abnormally large heart or excess fluid in lung tissues. The physician also uses other tests, including:
- Blood tests; and
- Echocardiography.
The physician will also measure the patient's ejection fraction (the percentage of blood that the heart pumps in each heartbear) to determine tell how well the heart is working. Tests the
physician may use in addition to echocardiography include:
- Left ventriculogram;
- Nuclear imaging;
- Computed tomography (CT) scan; and
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
TREATMENT APPROACH
The basic strategies for controlling heart failure are to relieve symptoms and to prevent the progressive decrease in the heart's pumping function. Lifestyle changes and medication are the methods most commonly used to achieve these strategies. In some instances, the cause of heart failure may be reversible through valve repair or replacement surgery, bypass surgery, or angioplasty.
Physicians prescribe several medications to relieve symptoms and to improve the function of the heart, including:
- Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors;
- Beta-blockers;
- Diuretics;
- Aldosterone receptor blockers;
- Angiotensin receptor blockers;
- Digitalis;
- Vasodilators; and
- Nitrates.
A medication that combines hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate (BiDil) is approved for heart failure treatment among African Americans.
Patients who have persistent severe heart failure despite medical therapy are candidates for prophylactic placement of an implantable cardiac defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac death. Other treatments for heart failure include cardiac resynchronization therapy, ventricular assist devices, and heart transplantation.
Physicians also recommend that patients:
- Quit smoking;
- Eliminate salt from the diet;
- Lose weight; and
- Limit alcohol intake
Medical Review Date: August 5, 2009
Copyright © 2013 NorthPoint Domain, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material cannot be reproduced in digital or printed form without the express consent of NorthPoint Domain, Inc. Unauthorized copying or distribution of NorthPoint Domain's Content is an infringement of the copyright holder's rights.
|
|
|
