Congestive heart failure facts

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. Many disease processes can impair the pumping efficiency of the heart to cause congestive heart failure. The symptoms of congestive heart failure vary, but can include fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. The diagnosis of congestive heart failure is based on knowledge of the individual's medical history, a careful physical examination, and selected laboratory tests. The treatment of congestive heart failure can include lifestyle modifications, addressing potentially reversible factors, medications, heart transplant, and mechanical therapies. The course of congestive heart failure in any given patient is extremely variable.

Diseases such as hemochromatosis (iron overload) or amyloidosis can cause stiffening of the heart muscle and impair the ventricles' capacity to relax and fill; this is referred to as diastolic dysfunction. The most common cause of this is longstanding high blood pressure resulting in a thickened (hypertrophied) heart. Additionally, in some patients, although the pumping action and filling capacity of the heart may be normal, abnormally high oxygen demand by the body's tissues (for example, with hyperthyroidism oranemia) may make it difficult for the heart to supply an adequate blood flow (called high output heart failure). In some individuals one or more of these factors can be present to cause congestive heart failure. The remainder of this article will focus primarily on congestive heart failure that is due to heart muscle weakness, systolic dysfunction. Congestive heart failure can affect many organs of the body. For example:

The weakened heart muscles may not be able to supply enough blood to the kidneys, which then begin to lose their normal ability to excrete salt (sodium) and water. This diminished kidney function can cause the body to retain more fluid. The lungs may become congested with fluid (pulmonary edema) and the person's ability to exercise is decreased. Fluid may likewise accumulate in the liver, thereby impairing its ability to rid the body of toxins and produce essential proteins. The intestines may become less efficient in absorbing nutrients and medicines. Fluid also may accumulate in the extremities, resulting in edema (swelling) of the ankles and feet. Eventually, untreated, worsening congestive heart failure will affect virtually every organ in the body. Picture of the heart and valves, left and right ventricles, left and right atria

What is congestive heart failure? Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to deliver oxygen rich blood to the body. Congestive heart failure can be caused by: 1. 2. 3. diseases that weaken the heart muscle, diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscles, or diseases that increase oxygen demand by the body tissue beyond the capability of the heart to deliver adequate oxygen-rich blood.

The heart has two atria (right atrium and left atrium) that make up the upper chambers of the heart, and two ventricles (left ventricle and right ventricle) that make up the lower chambers of the heart. The ventricles are muscular chambers that pump blood when the muscles contract. The contraction of the ventricle muscles is called systole. Many diseases can impair the pumping action of the ventricles. For example, the muscles of the ventricles can be weakened by heart attacks, infections (myocarditis) or toxins (alcohol, some chemotherapy agents). The diminished pumping ability of the ventricles due to muscle weakening is called systolic dysfunction. After each ventricular contraction (systole) the ventricle muscles need to relax to allow blood from the atria to fill the ventricles. This relaxation of the ventricles is called diastole.

What causes congestive heart failure? Many disease processes can impair the pumping efficiency of the heart to cause congestive heart failure. In the United States, the most common causes of congestive heart failure are:

tricuspid stenosis, pulmonic stenosis, mitral stenosis or aortic stenosis.

coronary artery disease

The coronary arteries are at risk for narrowing as cholesteroldeposits, called plaques, build up inside the artery. If the arteries narrow enough, blood supply to the heart muscle may be compromised (slowed down), and this slowing of blood flow to the heart causes pain, or angina.

Valvular insufficiency. Also called regurgitation, incompetence or "leaky valve", this occurs when a valve does not close tightly. If the valves do not seal, some blood will leak backwards across the valve. As the leak worsens, the heart has to work harder to make up for the leaky valve, and less blood may flow to the rest of the body. Depending on which valve is affected, the conditioned is called tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary regurgitation, mitral regurgitation or aortic regurgitation. unknown (idiopathic) causes, such as after recovery from myocarditis Less common causes include viral infections of the stiffening of the heart muscle, thyroid disorders, disorders of the heart rhythm, and many others. It should also be noted that in patients with underlying heart disease, taking certain medications can lead to the development or worsening of congestive heart failure. This is especially true for those drugs that can cause sodium retention or affect the power of the heart muscle. Examples of such medications are the commonly used nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), which include ibuprofen (Motrin and others) and naproxen (Aleve and others) as well as certain steroids, some medication for diabetes (such as rosiglitazone [Avandia] or pioglitazone [Actos]), and some calcium channel blockers.

high blood pressure (hypertension)

An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke(brain damage). These complications of hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high blood pressure. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications.

longstanding alcohol abuse

The long-term effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism can be devastating and even life threatening. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect virtually every organ system. Specific examples of alcohol-abuse effects on the body include everything from general effects like poor coordination, thiamine deficiency, and other forms of poor nutrition, cardiovascular effects like hypertension and irregular heartbeat, reproductive effects like impotence andirregular menses, as well as gastrointestinal problems like cirrhosis of the liver andpancreatitis. Alcohol-abuse effects on the brain include, but are by no means limited to, strokes, confusion, and amnesia.

disorders of the heart valves

Heart valve disease occurs when your heart's valves do not work the way they should. There are several types of valve disease:

Valvular stenosis. This occurs when a valve opening is smaller than normal due to stiff or fused leaflets. The narrowed opening may make the heart work very hard to pump blood through it. This can lead toheart failure and other symptoms (see below). All four valves can be stenotic (hardened, restricting blood flow); the conditions are called

NSAIDs may also cause fluid retention, leading to edema. The most serious side effects are kidney failure, liver failure, ulcers and prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery. Rosiglitazone has been shown to cause mild to moderate accumulation of fluid (edema) and can lead to heart failure. Patients who already have heart failure may develop worsening symptoms with rosiglitazone. Therefore, rosiglitazone should not be used by patients with heart failure. Rosiglitazone also has been associated with an increased risk of chest pain and heart attacks. The risk of heart attacks may be greater in those with established heart and taking nitrates or individuals receiving insulin. Liver dysfunction and over growth of gums may also occur. When diltiazem (Cardizem) or verapamil (Calan, Isoptin) are given to individuals with heart failure, symptoms of heart failure may worsen because these drugs reduce the ability of the heart to pump blood.

Congestive heart failure facts

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. Many disease processes can impair the pumping efficiency of the heart to cause congestive heart failure. The symptoms of congestive heart failure vary, but can include fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. The diagnosis of congestive heart failure is based on knowledge of the individual's medical history, a careful physical examination, and selected laboratory tests. The treatment of congestive heart failure can include lifestyle modifications, addressing potentially reversible factors, medications, heart transplant, and mechanical therapies. The course of congestive heart failure in any given patient is extremely variable.

What is congestive heart failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to deliver oxygen rich blood to the body. Congestive heart failure can be caused by: 1. 2. 3. diseases that weaken the heart muscle, diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscles, or diseases that increase oxygen demand by the body tissue beyond the capability of the heart to deliver adequate oxygen-rich blood.

The heart has two atria (right atrium and left atrium) that make up the upper chambers of the heart, and two ventricles (left ventricle and right ventricle) that make up the lower chambers of the heart. The ventricles are muscular chambers that pump blood when the muscles contract. The contraction of the ventricle muscles is called systole. Many diseases can impair the pumping action of the ventricles. For example, the muscles of the ventricles can be weakened by heart attacks, infections (myocarditis) or toxins (alcohol, some chemotherapy agents). The diminished pumping ability of the ventricles due to muscle weakening is called systolic dysfunction. After each ventricular contraction (systole) the ventricle muscles need to relax to allow blood from the atria to fill the ventricles. This relaxation of the ventricles is called diastole. Diseases such as hemochromatosis (iron overload) or amyloidosis can cause stiffening of the heart muscle and impair the ventricles' capacity to relax and fill; this is referred to as diastolic dysfunction. The most common cause of this is longstanding high blood pressure resulting in a thickened (hypertrophied) heart. Additionally, in some patients, although the pumping action and filling capacity of the heart may be normal, abnormally high oxygen demand by the body's tissues (for example, with hyperthyroidism oranemia) may make it difficult for the heart to supply an adequate blood flow (called high output heart failure). In some individuals one or more of these factors can be present to cause congestive heart failure. The remainder of this article will focus primarily on congestive heart failure that is due to heart muscle weakness, systolic dysfunction. Congestive heart failure can affect many organs of the body. For example:

The weakened heart muscles may not be able to supply enough blood to the kidneys, which then begin to lose their normal ability to excrete salt (sodium) and water. This diminished kidney function can cause the body to retain more fluid. The lungs may become congested with fluid (pulmonary edema) and the person's ability to exercise is decreased. Fluid may likewise accumulate in the liver, thereby impairing its ability to rid the body of toxins and produce essential proteins. The intestines may become less efficient in absorbing nutrients and medicines.

Fluid also may accumulate in the extremities, resulting in edema (swelling) of the ankles and feet. Eventually, untreated, worsening congestive heart failure will affect virtually every organ in the body. Picture of the heart and valves, left and right ventricles, left and right atria

What causes congestive heart failure?

Many disease processes can impair the pumping efficiency of the heart to cause congestive heart failure. In the United States, the most common causes of congestive heart failure are:

coronary artery disease high blood pressure (hypertension) longstanding alcohol abuse disorders of the heart valves unknown (idiopathic) causes, such as after recovery from myocarditis Less common causes include viral infections of the stiffening of the heart muscle, thyroid disorders, disorders of the heart rhythm, and many others. It should also be noted that in patients with underlying heart disease, taking certain medications can lead to the development or worsening of congestive heart failure. This is especially true for those drugs that can cause sodium retention or affect the power of the heart muscle. Examples of such medications are the commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), which include ibuprofen (Motrin and others) and naproxen (Aleve and others) as well as certain steroids, some medication for diabetes (such as rosiglitazone [Avandia] or pioglitazone [Actos]), and some calcium channel blockers.

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Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the inability of the heart to pump oxygenated blood to different muscles, tissues and organs due to weakening of hearts muscles leading to retention of oxygenated blood in the lower chamber of the heart (left ventricle) and lungs. This weakened pumping action of the heart causes accumulation of body fluid (water) in the lungs, kidneys, arms, legs ankles and feet (1). Congestive heart failure is mainly due to:

Systolic Dysfunction When the heart cannot pump oxygenated blood to suffice the bodys needs. Diastolic Dysfunction When the heart is unable to accept all the blood being sent to it. (2)

Normally, the heart pumps more than 50% of the blood that fills in it during every heart beat, but in case of patients suffering from heart failure, less than 40% of their blood is pumped out during each heart beat and a large portion of the blood remains in the heart - leaving less room for blood coming from the lungs during the next heart beat. This results in backing up of blood into the body. (3) Approximately 550,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. It is the most common hospital receiving diagnosis with more than one million hospital stays annually. A person 40 years or more has a 1 in 5 chance of developing heart failure. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) affects 1% of the people aged 50 years and older, 5% people aged 75 years or older, and 25% people aged 85 years or older irrespective of sex. (4,5) Types of Congestive Heart Failures First we need to know the functioning of the heart in order to understand the types of congestive heart failure. The hearts has four chambers, the upper two Atria and lower two Ventricles. The right atrium receives blood from various parts of the body through veins, which in turn is emptied into right ventricle. The right ventricle in turn pumps the blood to lungs wherein the carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and empties it into the left ventricle. The left ventricle in turn pumps this oxygenated blood to various parts and organs in the body through the aorta and arteries. (6) The various types of congestive heart failure are: 1. Systolic Heart Failure: In this type, the hearts ability to contract decreases leading to backing up of blood coming from the lungs causing the fluid to leak into the lungs. This condition is called pulmonary congestion. 2. Diastolic Heart Failure: In this type, the heart cannot relax properly due to stiffening of the hearts muscle leading to improper filling of the heart with blood. This condition may lead to fluid accumulation in the feet, ankles, legs and sometimes the lungs. (7) 3. Right-sided heart failure: The failure of the pumping action of the right side of the heart causes swelling in the legs and abdomen. 4. Left-sided heart failure: In this type, the left side of the heart fails in its pumping action causing congestion in the lungs. 5. Forward heart failure: Inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood to meet the oxygen needs of the body during an exercise or rest leads to forward heart failure. 6. Backward heart failure: It is the inability of the heart to meet the oxygen needs when heart pressures are very high. 7. High output heart failure: Though the heart pumps out the usual amount of blood, the bodys needs may not be fulfilled (8).

Causes & Risk Factors Causes: The causes for Congestive Heart Failure are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Weakened heart muscle. Damaged heart valves. Blocking of blood vessels supplying the heart muscle (coronary arteries). Alcohol and drug abuse. Hypertension results in thickening of the heart muscle leading to left ventricular hypertrophy.

1. Pericardial disease such as pericardial effusion (It is a collection of fluid around the heart in the space between the heart muscle and the thick layer of pericardium surrounding heart) and thickened pericardium does not permit the heart to fill properly. 2. Congenital heart disease prolonged arrhythmia.

Certain lifestyles and habits can also cause congestive heart failure and they include: 1. Smoking 2. Obesity and lack of activity leads to hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) which may contribute directly or indirectly to CHF. 3. Uncontrolled hypertension damages the heart and blood vessels (5).

Risk Factors: Risk factors for Congestive Heart Failure include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Previous heart attacks Hypertension Irregular heart beat (Arrhythmia) Heart valve disease such as aortic and mitral valve Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) Congenital heart defects (9)