Heart failure, sometimes known as congestive heart failure, is a condition where the heart is not able to pump blood as efficiently as it should. As a result, there’s a reduction in blood flow to the body and a backup (congestion) of fluid into the lungs, liver, and abdomen.
Despite its name, “heart failure’’ doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working, rather it means that the heart muscle has become less able to contract over time or has a mechanical problem that limits its ability to fill with blood.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart failure is a serious condition that is often the end stage or final outcome of many cardiovascular conditions. The major causes of heart failure include coronary heart disease and heart attack, high blood pressure, damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart valve problems and abnormal heart rhythms. Of these, coronary heart disease and heart attack are the most common causes.
While there’s no cure for heart failure, lifestyle changes, including medication can help manage the condition and improve symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure
Heart not being able to pump blood means that not enough oxygen-rich blood can get to the body’s other organs. So, the body tries to compensate for reduced blood flow in different ways.
- Pumping blood faster to increase your heart’s output.
- Diverting blood– taking blood away from other tissues and organs such as the kidneys, the heart, and brain.
- Enlarging the heart chamber, to make room for the blood.
- Developing more muscle mass. This process happens because the contracting cells of the heart get bigger, which initially lets the heart pump more strongly.
These compensations may reduce heart failure temporarily, but eventually, heart failure gets worse and may result in signs and symptoms including:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
- Fatigue and weakness
- Chest congestion
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Edemaor ankle swelling
- Lack of appetite and nausea
Heart failure manifests as a combination of symptoms rather than just one. The signs of heart failure can also seem similar to those of normal aging and thus can be easy for people to look over. If you are experiencing the above symptoms, get in touch with a doctor as soon as possible.
What Causes Congestive Heart Failure
In a person with heart failure, one or both ventricles don’t empty properly. This leads to increased pressure in the atria (upper chambers) and the nearby veins. For other people with heart failure, rather than failed pumping of the blood from the ventricle, there is failed relaxation of the ventricle.
Heart failure can be caused by several conditions, including:
- A previous heart attack from coronary heart disease which can lead to scarring in the heart muscle that interferes with the heart muscle’s ability to pump normally.
- Coronary artery disease, which is the most common cause of heart failure.
- High blood pressure or hypertension- the high pressure in the arteries makes your heart work harder than it should to circulate blood throughout the body.
- Abnormal heart valves or heart valve disease.
- Congenital heart disease or defects that you’re born with such as defective valves or abnormal communications between heart chambers. These can weaken the heart.
- Irregular heartbeats (called heart arrhythmias)- this over a long period of time, can also lead to inefficient contraction and heart failure.
- Thyroid disease. The thyroid gland produces too much of its hormone, thyroxine. This increases the work of the heart and can lead to heart failure.
- Chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema can cause heart failure.
- Metabolic – diabetes, growth hormone
- Anemia and excessive blood loss can lead to heart failure.
Risk factors for heart failure, according to Mayo Clinic, include high blood pressure, previous episode of heart attack, diabetes, sleep apnea, viruses, obesity, alcohol and tobacco use, and irregular heartbeats.
Complications of Congestive Heart Failure
Complications for congestive heart failure include:
- Impaired Kidney Function. Heart failure can reduce the blood flow to your kidneys and can lead to kidney damage or kidney failure if left untreated.
- Heart Valve Problems. The valves of your heart, which keep blood flowing in the proper direction through your heart, may not function properly if the heart is enlarged due to heart failure.
- Heart failure results in damaged heart muscles, which can lead to the development of arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeat.
- Rapid Weight Loss. Heart failure can also lead to an unintentional rapid weight loss. The liver and intestines can swell due to backup of the blood caused by heart failure This swelling can lead to nausea and loss of appetite and can prevent the body from absorbing nutrients from food.
Treatment Options for Congestive Heart Failure
There is no cure for heart failure. Treatment and medication approach can relieve symptoms and slow further damage. The chief thing you can do to manage the condition so that it does not progress is to make lifestyle changes. These include exercising and maintaining a heart-healthy diet. In addition, you also may be advised to avoid salt (because of fluid retention) and caffeine (because of heartbeat irregularities).
Drugs and Medication Options
Your doctor may also prescribe drugs to decrease symptoms and improve heart function. These can include:
- Diuretics – to remove excess fluid and improve symptoms of heart failure.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to enlarge blood vessels, decrease blood pressure and reduce sodium retention and water retention.
- Certain beta-blockers to slow down the heart rate and decreasing the effects of adrenaline on the heart.
- Digitalis to help the heart strengthen its contractions when its pumping function has been weakened. The drug can help reduce symptoms of heart failure.
Preventing Congestive Heart Failure
The key to preventing heart failures is to control your risk factors. Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent heart failure include:
- Quitting smoking
- Controlling certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
- Staying physically active
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
