| What is heart failure? | | | | chamber (left ventricle) pumps. Digitalis increases the |
| Heart failure means your heart muscle does not pump | | | | pumping action of the heart, while diuretics help the |
| as much blood as your body needs. Failure does not | | | | body eliminate excess salt and water. |
| mean that your heart has stopped. It means that your | | | | If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms |
| heart is not pumping as well as it should. Congestive | | | | listed below, it is essential to seek a medical evaluation. |
| heart failure can be caused by: | | | | Physicians will obtain a detailed medical history, |
| 1. Diseases that weaken the heart muscle, | | | | perform a physical examination to check for signs of |
| 2. Diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscles, | | | | lung congestion or abnormal heart rhythms, and check |
| or | | | | for risk factors including high blood pressure. |
| 3. Diseases that increase oxygen demand by the | | | | Treatment |
| body tissue beyond the capability of the heart to | | | | Treatment of congestive heart failure consists primarily |
| deliver. | | | | of treating the symptoms. Vital signs should be taken |
| CHF is summarized best as an imbalance in Starling | | | | regularly, and often diuretics will be prescribed to |
| forces or an imbalance in the degree of end-diastolic | | | | facilitate expulsion of accumulated fluid from the body. |
| fiber stretch proportional to the systolic mechanical | | | | While in the hospital fluid intake and output will be |
| work expended in an ensuing contraction. This | | | | measured very carefully. Patients will probably be |
| imbalance may be characterized as a malfunction | | | | placed in an upright position to assist in moving fluid |
| between the mechanisms that keep the interstitium | | | | from around the heart and lungs, given potassium |
| and alveoli dry and the opposing forces that are | | | | supplements and prescribed bed rest for a period of |
| responsible for fluid transfer to the interstitium. | | | | time. |
| How is CHF diagnosed? | | | | It is also your responsibility to carefully monitor yourself |
| Most doctors can make a tentative diagnosis of CHF | | | | and help manage your condition. One important way to |
| from the presence of edema and shortness of breath. | | | | do this is to track your weight on a daily basis. Weight |
| With a stethoscope, a doctor can listen to your chest | | | | gain can be a sign that you are retaining fluid and that |
| for the crackling sounds of fluid in the lungs, the distinct | | | | the pump function of your heart is worsening. Make |
| sound of faulty valves (heart murmur), or the presence | | | | sure you weigh yourself at the same time each day |
| of a very quick heartbeat. By tapping on your chest, | | | | and on the same scale, with little to no clothes on. |
| doctors can find out if fluid has built up in your chest. | | | | In some cases, heart failure can be treated by |
| Various drugs are used to treat congestive heart | | | | correcting the underlying cause. For example, |
| failure. They perform different functions. ACE inhibitors | | | | controlling a fast heart rhythm may reverse structural |
| and vasodilators expand blood vessels and decrease | | | | heart abnormalities. While in many cases structural |
| resistance. This allows blood to flow more easily and | | | | abnormalities cannot be corrected, treatment can |
| makes the heart's work easier or more efficient. Beta | | | | usually markedly decrease symptoms and increase life |
| blockers can improve how well the heart's left lower | | | | expectancy and quality of life. |