Congestive
Heart Failure
What is heart failure?
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is one of the most prevalent
diagnoses today as more people survive heart attacks and are
left with residual heart problems. Heart failure is a condition
that develops when the heart's muscle becomes weakened after
it is injured from something like a heart attack or blood
pressure, and loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply
the body's needs.
It is a very common disease and affects nearly 5 million
Americans, and an estimated 550,000 new cases are diagnosed
each year.
What are the warning signs and symptoms of heart
failure?
There is an acronym to help you remember the symptoms of
heart failure: FACES
F for fatigue
A for activities limited
C for chest congestion
E for edema or ankle swelling
S for shortness of breath
How is heart failure detected?
The most common method of diagnosing cardiomyopathy is an
electrocardiogram (EKG) and a chest x-ray. An EKG measures
the electrical activity of your heart and a chest x-ray takes
a picture of your heart to examine its configuration and size.
Other imaging tests that may be ordered are as follows:
- Echocardiogram, or "echo":
Determines if a portion of the heart muscle is not pumping,
if the heart valves are leaking, or if there is a hole in
the heart.
- Blood Tests: To assess kidney and thyroid function, check
cholesterol and check for anemia.
What are the treatment options for heart failure?
People suffering from heart failure can almost always be
helped by a combination of changes in lifestyle and medication.
Your doctor will select the most appropriate treatment for
you.
Medications
Depending on the type and severity of your heart failure,
your doctor may use the following medications:
- Diuretics or "water pills" decrease
fluid retention and reduce swelling
- Digoxin improves heart strength in
some people
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)
Inhibitors dilate or widen blood vessels, increase blood
flow, and block hormones harmful to the heart and blood
vessels
- Adrenergic Receptive Blockers (Beta
Blockers) help strengthen the heart's pumping action and
block the body's response to substances which can damage the
heart
- Aldosterone Receptor Blockers (ARBs) reduce scarring
and stiffening of the heart and blood vessels
Surgery
Heart failure is a progressive disease that can worsen over
time without treatment. Sometimes, surgical intervention helps.
Some surgeries involve removal of damaged heart muscle, repair
of damaged valves, or surgery to correct blocked arteries.
In extreme cases, heart transplantation may be necessary,
whereby surgeons remove your damaged heart and replace it
with a human heart from an organ donor.
Pacemaker Therapy
Some types of heart failure can be improved by pacemakers
which enhance the timing and vigor of the way the heart beats.
Some can correct lethal arrhythmias which are more common
in heart failure. These
and other devices are being used more commonly in the treatment
of heart failure.
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