Article,
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
Heart failure does not mean that heart has stopped working and lost its function. But it means that heart function is weaker than the normal. When there is heart failure the blood is pumped at a slower rate than the normal. So, lesser amount of oxygen and nutrients are pumped to the body. The chambers of heart stretch more to pump more blood to the body and thus the heart walls get weakened and unable to pump the blood. So, kidneys cause the body to retain fluid (water) and salt. If such fluid is accommodated in arms, legs, ankles, lungs or feet then body becomes congested. This is called as “Congestive Heart Failure”. CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up around the heart causing it to pump inefficiently. Heart has four chambers, 2 atria and 2 ventricles. CHF develops when your ventricles can’t pump blood to the body and thus the blood is accumulated in lungs, abdomen, liver or body.
This is a life threatening condition and must be treated on time.
Causes of Congestive Heart Failure:
Congestive Heart Failure
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
Heart failure does not mean that heart has stopped working and lost its function. But it means that heart function is weaker than the normal. When there is heart failure the blood is pumped at a slower rate than the normal. So, lesser amount of oxygen and nutrients are pumped to the body. The chambers of heart stretch more to pump more blood to the body and thus the heart walls get weakened and unable to pump the blood. So, kidneys cause the body to retain fluid (water) and salt. If such fluid is accommodated in arms, legs, ankles, lungs or feet then body becomes congested. This is called as “Congestive Heart Failure”. CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up around the heart causing it to pump inefficiently. Heart has four chambers, 2 atria and 2 ventricles. CHF develops when your ventricles can’t pump blood to the body and thus the blood is accumulated in lungs, abdomen, liver or body.
This is a life threatening condition and must be treated on time.
Causes of Congestive Heart Failure:
CHF may result from other health conditions that directly
affect cardiovascular system. So, it is necessary to get regular check-up from
a physician to lower the risk of CHF, these checkups include hypertension,
coronary artery disease and valve problems.
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure:
In the early stage of CHF symptoms are not clear, but as the condition get worsen symptoms aggravate. These symptoms include:
Fatigue, swelling around feet, ankle and lungs. Weight gain, irregular heartbeat, cough, breathing problem, chest pain which radiates to arm, bluish skin, continuous fainting and dizziness.
Treatment:
When you observe such symptoms in your body then go for a treatment. Treatment strategies include:
In the early stage of CHF symptoms are not clear, but as the condition get worsen symptoms aggravate. These symptoms include:
Fatigue, swelling around feet, ankle and lungs. Weight gain, irregular heartbeat, cough, breathing problem, chest pain which radiates to arm, bluish skin, continuous fainting and dizziness.
Treatment:
When you observe such symptoms in your body then go for a treatment. Treatment strategies include:
·
There
are certain test which cardiologist will refer to a person experiencing these
symptoms:
- An
electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) records your heart’s rhythm.
- An
echocardiogram uses sound waves to record the hearts structure and motion.
- An
MRI that takes pictures of heart.
- Stress
tests show how well your heart performs under different levels of
stress.
- Blood
tests can check for abnormal blood cells and infections.
- Cardiac
catheterization will show blockages of the coronary arteries. Catheterization
include inserting a small tube into your blood vessels and threading it to
upper thigh, groin area, arm or wrist.
Medications:
Different
medicines are used for the treatment of congestive heart failure. These
include:
·
Angiotensin-converting
enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). These open up the blood vessels that are
narrowed and improves the blood flow to the body. If a person can’t use ACE
inhibitors, vasodilators are used in place of ACE inhibitors.
Beta-blockers can reduce blood pressure and slow down the increased in heart rhythm. Besides this, diuretics also reduces the fluid content of body which is retained by the congestive heart failure.
Beta-blockers can reduce blood pressure and slow down the increased in heart rhythm. Besides this, diuretics also reduces the fluid content of body which is retained by the congestive heart failure.
Surgeries:
If medicines alone are unable to treat the congestive heart failure then a surgery is recommended. Angioplasty is a treatment employed to open up blocked arteries of heart for normal blood flow. A heart valve repair surgery is also done to open the heart valves for normal blood flow maintenance.
If medicines alone are unable to treat the congestive heart failure then a surgery is recommended. Angioplasty is a treatment employed to open up blocked arteries of heart for normal blood flow. A heart valve repair surgery is also done to open the heart valves for normal blood flow maintenance.
0 comments: