Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a serious condition in which your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
Heart failure is a serious condition that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood and requires treatment. In this blog post, we will discuss the symptoms, causes, and treatment of heart failure. We will also provide information on how to prevent heart failure from occurring. If you or someone you know is suffering from heart failure, please seek medical attention immediately.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a serious condition in which your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
Coronary artery disease, a narrowing of the heart’s arteries (causing a heart attack or stroke), and high blood pressure can all cause the heart to become too weak or rigid to fill and pump blood effectively.
Heart failure can be prevented by avoiding or treating factors that might induce it, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
What causes heart failure?
Heart failure can occur after another illness has damaged or weakened the heart, and it frequently follows damage or loss of other organs. Heart failure can also develop as a result of a stiffened heart.
The main pumping chambers of the heart (the ventricles) in people with heart failure may become rigid and fail to fill correctly between beats. The cardiac muscle may be damaged or weakened in some people. The ventricles may stretch until the heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout the body. Gradually, the heart cannot keep up with the typical demands it faces to pump blood to the rest of the body.
Your doctor can calculate how well your heart is working by measuring the amount of blood pumped out with each beat. The ejection fraction is the amount of blood that is pumped from the left ventricle each time it contracts. A normal ejection fraction is between 50 and 70 percent. A lower ejection fraction means that your heart is not working as well as it should.
Risk factors for heart failure
There are many possible risk factors for heart failure, including:
- Coronary artery disease: This is the most common cause of heart failure. Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque builds up in your coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to your heart.
- High blood pressure: This condition puts extra strain on your heart and can damage your arteries, heart muscle, and kidneys.
- Diabetes: This condition can damage your blood vessels and nerves, making it harder for your heart to pump blood.
- Obesity: This increases your risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.
- Heart valve disease: This can cause the heart to work harder to pump blood.
- Cardiomyopathy: It also increases your risk of developing heart failure.
- Heart muscle damage: This can be caused by a heart attack, viral infections, alcohol abuse, or certain medications.
- Heart attack: This occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked, causing the death of a part of the heart muscle.
- Viral infections: These can damage the heart muscle or cause inflammation of the heart.
- Alcohol abuse: This can damage the heart muscle.
- Certain medications: These can damage the heart muscle or cause heart rhythm problems.
- Congenital heart disease: Some people who suffer from heart failure have birth defects that impair the structure or function of their hearts.
- Irregular heartbeats: Extremely irregular heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent and rapid, can harm the heart muscle and cause cardiac failure.
- Smoking
Types of heart failure
The types of heart failure:
- Left-sided heart failure: This type of heart failure occurs when the left ventricle cannot pump enough blood to the body.
- Right-sided heart failure: This type of heart failure occurs when the right ventricle cannot pump enough blood to the lungs.
- Systolic heart failure: This is the most common type of heart failure. It occurs when the heart muscle is too weak to pump blood effectively.
- Diastolic heart failure: This occurs when the heart muscle is stiff and unable to fill properly between beats.
Heart failure can either be a long-term condition or it can happen suddenly.
- Acute heart failure: This is a sudden, severe form of heart failure that requires immediate medical attention.
- Chronic heart failure: This is a long-term form of heart failure that may get worse over time.
What are the symptoms of heart failure?
The most common symptom of heart failure is shortness of breath (dyspnea), which can occur when lying down, exercising, or even when performing everyday activities such as dressing or taking a shower.
Other symptoms of heart failure can include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Chest pain
- Fast heartbeat
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the neck
- Cough
- Weight gain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Confusion or impaired thinking
- Irregular heartbeats
How is heart failure diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms. They will also perform a physical exam.
Tests that may be ordered to diagnose heart failure include:
- Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the heart. It can show how well the heart is pumping and if there is any damage to the heart.
- Cardiac catheterization: This test is used to measure the pressure in the heart and to check for blockages in the coronary arteries.
- Chest x-ray: This test can show if the heart is enlarged or if there is fluid buildup in the lungs.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test records the electrical activity of the heart and can show if there is any damage to the heart.
- Blood tests: These tests can show if there is damage to the heart muscle or if there are any problems with the way the heart is pumping blood.
How is heart failure treated?
The treatment for heart failure depends on the severity of the condition. Mild heart failure can often be treated with lifestyle changes and medications. More severe heart failure may require hospitalization and surgery.
- Lifestyle changes: These can include losing weight, exercising, and quitting smoking.
- Medications: Medications used to treat heart failure include diuretics to remove excess fluid from the body, ACE inhibitors to improve blood flow, and beta blockers to slow the heart rate.
- Hospitalization: This may be necessary if you have severe heart failure. You may need to be treated with intravenous (IV) fluids and medications.
- Surgery: Surgery may be necessary if you have heart failure that is caused by a birth defect, valve problem, or other condition.
What are the complications of heart failure?
The complications of heart failure can include:
- Arrhythmia: This is an irregular heartbeat that can be life-threatening.
- Cardiogenic shock: This is a medical emergency that occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body.
- Heart valve problems: Heart failure can cause the valves in the heart to leak.
- Kidney damage: Heart failure can cause the kidneys to stop working properly.
- Liver damage: Heart failure can cause the liver to swell and become damaged.
- Pulmonary edema: This is a medical emergency that occurs when fluid builds up in the lungs.
Prevention of heart failure
There is no sure way to prevent heart failure, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk. These include:
- Quit smoking
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Control conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Limit alcohol consumption
If your doctor recommends a treatment plan, it’s critical to adhere to it. Heart failure is a serious condition, but with treatment, you can improve your quality of life.
What is the outlook for people with heart failure?
The outlook for people with heart failure depends on the severity of the condition. People with mild heart failure often have a good prognosis and can often live a normal life with lifestyle changes and medications. People with more severe heart failure may need to be hospitalized and may have a poorer prognosis.
If you have heart failure, it is important to follow the treatment plan recommended by your doctor. With treatment, many people with heart failure can live long and productive lives.
