What is congestive heart failure?

Heart failure means that the hearts pumping power is weaker than normal , with heart
failure the blood moves through the heart at a much slower rate causing the pressure in
the heart to raise (Otelio R, S., Segerson N., and D, Romaine. 2015.) .Then the heart
cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to the body causing the heart chambers to
stretch and hold more blood which causes stiffness. The heart muscle walls can become
weak and cause the heart to not pump effectively (Otelio R, S., Segerson N., and D,
Romaine. 2015.). This causes the kidneys to retain fluid such as water and salt leading to
fluid buildup in the arm, legs, ankles, and many other organs which leads to the body to
become congested( Otelio R, S., Segerson N., and D, Romaine. 2015.). The name
congestive heart failure is a medical name that describes the condition. ( Otelio R, S.,
Segerson N., and D, Romaine. 2015.)

Fact: over 3 million Americans congestive heart failure and a half a million new cases
are diagnosed each year. (Tecce, M. A., Pennington, J.1999)

The causes of Congestive heart failure

Types of congestive heart failure

The conditions that can cause

congestive heart failure :
Arrhythmias
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Cardiomyopathy
Congenital heart disease
"Heart failure." Health
Reference Center. Facts
On File, Inc.
http://www.fofweb.com/
activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE48&SID=5
&iPin=EHM0575&Sing
leRecord=True
(accessed April 22,
2015).

Systolic dysfunction: the

muscle of the heart doesnt
contract with enough force
and there is less oxygen rich
blood that is pumped
through the whole body.
(Tecce, M. A., Pennington,
J.1999)
Diastolic dysfunction: the
heart contracts normally but
the ventricles do not relax
.they are stiff and less blood
enters the heart. (Tecce, M.
A., Pennington, J.1999)
Tests and treatments for congestive heart failure

The symptoms of heart failure (may not have any symptoms and
the symptoms can be mild or severe and symptoms may come
and go): (Otelio R, S., Segerson N., and D, Romaine. 2015.)

Congested lungs
Shortness of breath with exercise or lying flat in bed
Dry, hacking cough
Wheezing
Fluid and water retention
Swollen limbs
Weight gain
Bloating
Loss of appetite
Weight gain

Tests: blood pressure, chest x-ray, echocardiogram,

ultra sound, electrocardiogram, cardiac
catheterization, stress test and ejection fraction.
Treatments: medications, monitoring, lessen
symptoms. (Otelio R, S., Segerson N., and D,
Romaine. 2015.)

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References: Tecce, M. A., Pennington, J. A., Segal, B.

L., & Jessup, M. L. (1999). Heart failure: Clinical
implications of systolic and diastolic
dysfunction. Geriatrics, 54(8), 24.
Otelio R, S., Segerson N., and D, Romaine. (21 Apr.
2015.) "Heart failure." Health Reference Center. Facts
on File, Inc. Web.
"Heart failure." Health Reference Center. Facts on
File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE48&SID=5&iPin=EHM0575&SingleRec
ord=True (accessed April 22, 2015).