Our heart is a vital organ which supports our existence. It is important to take care of your heart. In spite of growing knowledge on cardiac care, heart failure has become a common condition nowadays. Heart failure is also called congestive heart failure. Contrary to the term, heart failure doesn’t mean that the heart has failed. It is an indication that it is not working as effectively as it should. There are a lot of things to know about heart failure, read on to learn more about it.
What is Heart Failure?
The heart is the most vital part of the body. It pumps oxygen and blood to other parts, which includes the body’s cells. The nutrient rich blood helps the cells to function properly. When the heart becomes weak, it cannot supply enough blood to the cells and results in fatigue, shortness of breath, etc. Even daily activities like climbing stairs or walking become difficult.
Congestive heart failure needs immediate and timely medical care. It is a serious heart condition as the heart fails to pump blood properly. In some cases, the heart muscles become hard or stiff resulting in blockage or reduced flow of blood to the heart. It usually occurs after a heart attack and may also lead to problems with the valves of the heart.
Though it is a serious condition, people who suffer from it can enjoy a full life with proper medication and a healthy lifestyle.
Symptoms of Heart Failure
Heart failure can happen all of a sudden or can be chronic, some of the signs and symptoms include:
- Weakness and/or fatigue
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Irregular heartbeat
- Feeling short of breath when you do routine activities or lie down
- Fast heartbeat
- Chest pain if caused by a heart attack
- Reduced ability to walk or do simple exercises
- Swelling of the abdomen, legs, ankles, and feet
- Persistent cough with pink or white, pink or bloody-tinged phlegm
- Frequent urination at night
- Fluid retention and rapid weight gain
- Reduced alertness and decreased concentration
Types of Heart Failure
Heart failure can happen to the left or right side of the heart or both sides can fail simultaneously.
Left-sided heart failure: It is the most common type of heart failure and happens when the left ventricle does not pump blood properly. The blood tends to get accumulated in the lungs and leads to a buildup of fluids and shortness of breath.
Systolic heart failure: It is a condition where the heart has reduced ejection fraction. Ejection fraction is the ratio of blood pumped out from the heart into the body. It is calculated for every heartbeat. A ratio of 55% and above is considered healthy.
Diastolic heart failure: It is a condition where the heart can pump blood properly but is unable to return to its usual position after pumping.
Right-sided heart failure: The failure happens when the right side of the heart does not function properly or is overworked. It is triggered when the left side of the heart does not perform its job properly and causes stress to the right side leading to failure. Even lung diseases can cause this failure.
Causes of Heart Failure
Heart failure is most often caused due to other related conditions or chronic illnesses. The commonly identified cause is a disorder called coronary artery disease, CAD. It leads to the arteries becoming narrow affecting the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Some of the other causes of heart failure include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes and obesity
- Emphysema which is an illness of the lung
- Underactive or overactive thyroid
- HIV and AIDS
- Specific types of Arrhythmia
- Chemotherapy
- Drug, smoking and/or alcohol abuse
- Congenital heart defect
- The disease of the heart valve
- Cardiomyopathy
- Certain forms of anemia
Diagnosing Heart Failure
Heart failure can be managed and the patient can lead a full life despite having this condition. But it is essential to know the symptoms and see a doctor. The physician will conduct a series of tests if suspected of heart failure. Some of the tests include:
Blood and urine tests: The blood count, kidney, liver, and thyroid function will be checked. Specific chemical markers are checked to find if it is heart failure.
Chest X-ray: It shows if the heart is enlarged or if there is a fluid build-up in the lungs.
ECG: An electrocardiogram records the rhythms and electrical activity of the heart. It also shows up any damage to the heart due to a heart attack.
Echocardiogram: It is an ultrasound scan that tests the heart’s pumping action. The percentage of blood pumped out at each heartbeat is measured.
Stress-test: A treadmill or an exercise machine is used to stress the heart of the patient. Sometimes even medication that causes stress is used.
Cardiac MRI or CT: It is used to check the heart valves or the ejection fraction. It is also used to determine if the patient has had a heart attack.
Angiogram: A catheter with a dye is introduced into the blood vessels so it reaches the arteries through the aorta. The dye helps to detect if the patient has coronary artery disease which is a common cause of heart failure.
Treatment options
If the pumping action of the heart is damaged due to heart failure it can only be managed but not cured completely. According to https://www.thomsonmedical.com/heart-failure-treatment/ there are many treatment options depending on the condition. The focus is on treating the condition that causes heart failure so that there is less stress on the heart.
Two of the common treatment options are:
Medications
A common treatment option suggested by doctors is taking medications like;
ACE inhibitors: Helps in reducing blood pressure and helping the arteries to relax so that workload on the heart is reduced. It boosts the performance of the heart and quality of life of the patient.
Diuretics: They relieve symptoms like swelling in ankles and feet and also shortness of breath. They also remove excess salt and water from the kidneys.
Anticoagulants: This is a blood-thinner and aids in preventing stroke.
Beta-blockers: It is useful for all patients who suffer from heart failure
Antiplatelet medicines: Prevents platelets from clotting in the blood.
Surgery
When the patient does not respond to drugs, surgery may be advised. Some of the surgical options are:
Bypass: Is performed so that normal blood flow is restored to the coronary artery
Heart valve surgery: The defective valve is repaired and that helps in the effective working of the heart.
LVAD: It is an assistive device that helps the heart to pump blood. It is used for patients who are about to get a heart transplant.
Prevention and management
Certain lifestyle changes can ensure that there are fewer chances of heart failure or can make the progression slower. Some of them are:
- Including a healthy diet and reducing the use of refined carbs
- Staying active physically and exercising regularly
- Staying away from smoking and alcohol
- Keeping a low blood pressure
- Getting a good night’s sleep
- Ensuring proper body weight
- Taking proper medications for heart failure
- Reducing mental stress
Heart failure is a condition that can happen to anyone and has a long-term impact. Hence the treatment is long-term and if left untreated can lead to life-threatening complications. Moreover, this condition progresses with time and hence the correct treatment plan has to be taken to slow its progress. It is suggested that you contact your doctor immediately when you experience any of the symptoms that indicate a heart problem.
