Definition
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.
Symptoms
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Definition
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.
Causes
Heart failure is almost always a chronic, long-term condition, although it can sometimes develop suddenly. This condition may affect the right side, the left side, or both sides of the heart.
As the heart's pumping action is lost, blood may back up into other areas of the body, including:
With heart failure, many organs don't receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which damages them and reduces their ability to function properly. Most areas of the body can be affected when both sides of the heart fail.
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Treatment
If you have heart failure, your doctor will monitor you closely. This means having follow up appointments at least every 3 to 6 months, figuring out any underlying cause and treating it, and periodic testing of your heart function. For example, an ultrasound of your heart, called an echocardiogram, will be done once in awhile to give an estimate of how well your heart is pumping blood with each stroke or beat.
It is also your responsibility to carefully monitor yourself and help manage your condition. One important way to do this is to track your weight on a daily basis. Weight gain can be a sign that you are retaining fluid and that the pump function of your heart is worsening. Make sure you weigh yourself at the same time each day and on the same scale, ...
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Possible Complications
Possible side effects of medications include:
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Outlook (Prognosis)
Heart failure is a serious disorder that carries a reduced life expectancy. Many forms of heart failure can be controlled with medication, lifestyle change, and correction of any underlying disorder. Heart failure is usually a chronic illness, and it may worsen with infection or other physical stressors.
Prevention
Follow your health care provider's recommendations for treatment of conditions that may cause congestive heart failure. These recommendations may include:
- Treat your high blood pressure with diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.
- Treat your high cholesterol with diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.
- DO NOT smoke
- Avoid alcohol use
- Take an ACE inhibitor if you have heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
- Treat arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and keep your heart rate under control.
- Treat an underlying thyroid disorder.
Also, consider the following lifestyle habits, especially if you have a strong family history of CHF:
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References
Hunt SA, Abraham WT, Chin MH, Feldman AM, Francis GS, Ganiats TG, et al. ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;46:1-82.
