A heart condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body's organs. This can be caused by narrowed arteries to the heart, scar tissue from past heart attacks that prevent the heart from working properly, high blood pressure, heart valve disease such as a mitral valve prolapse, heart disease, heart defects, and infection of the heart of vavles.

Congestive heart failure should not be confused with a heart attack, the heart will continue to operate, however it will not be as efficient and the rest of the body may suffer problems due to lack of adequate blood flow. In addition, a backup of blood into the heart can occur which can lead to swelling, most commonly in the lower limbs, as well as fluid collection in the lungs that interfere with normal breathing.

The most common symptoms of congestive heart failure are difficulty breathing and swelling in the legs or ankles. Treatment consists mainly of rest and proper diet, limited exercize, and medications such as beta blockers and enzyme inhibitors. Enzyme inhibitors cause blood vessels to expand which decreases the resistance to the heart, while beta blockers can help the heart to beat more efficiently. In many cases, congestive heart failure is caused by an underlying medical condition such as a problem with the heart valves, and treatment will focus on fixing the underlying cause.

For most cases, congestive heart failure can be treated and a relatively normal life can be lived (with decreased stress). However, in some cases, continued congestive heart failure can cause damage to the heart which cannot be repaired, and a heart transplant is the only option.

For more information on living with heart failure, please see the American Heart Association's site on living with heart failure at http://www.americanheart.org/chf/.

Blood is pumped by contraction and expansion of the heart. Movement of blood through the body carries nutrients and wastes; it is the constant work of the heart which prevents stasis.

You know.

Before people knew what brains were they thought the heart was the seat of the soul.

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I followed my grandmother everywhere, even to the convalescent home.

This is what I know about Congestive Heart Failure:

the doctor lifted her gown and pressed his thumb into her left shin. When he withdrew it there remained a pit, as though in clay. That was edema — the accumulation of fluids in tissues. Overfilling of the flesh. That is Congestive Heart Failure.

Now this, what's coming up, is not what I know, but facts that I can tell you.

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure is easy to write like this: CHF.

A heart afflicted with CHF is unable to effectively pump blood to the other organs.

The 'congestive' in 'Congestive Heart Failure' refers the pooling of blood and other fluids in the tissues resulting from weak intake: edema. Edema can occur both in superficial tissues, like skin, and in organs, like lungs. The parts of the body that swell depend on which side of the heart fails:

• If the left side fails, edema occurs in the lungs;
• If the right side fails, edema is in the veins and limbs.

CHF is a slow illness. Typically, symptoms do not appear for years:

• Difficulty breathing, especially while lying down
• Weakness
• Weight gain from excess fluid
• Chest pain
• Indigestion & loss of appetite
• Swollen neck veins
• Clammy skin
• Fast or irregular pulse
• Confusion, restlessness, memory problems

Gradual worsening of symptoms is a manifestation of the heart laboring to compensate for deficiencies. The heart grows and pumps faster. If applied early, treatments can prevent the patient from becoming an invalid.

 

Excess of sodium sometimes leads to kidney failure. Pulmonary edema is the most dangerous result of CHF — accumulation of fluids in the alveoli of the lungs.

The heart is weakened by trauma. CHF is a result of prior heart problems.

• Previous heart attacks with scar tissue that interfere with pumping
• Narrow arteries — coronary artery disease
• Hypertension
• Heart valve disease, especially resulting from rheumatic fever
• Cardiomyopathy — disease of the heart muscle itself
• Congenital heart defects
• Endocarditis &/or myocarditis — infection of the heart valves or muscle

CHF is a common killer. While the risk increases with age, only one out of ten is affected by age 75; however, patients with CHF make up the largest diagnosis-related group over 65 years in hospitals. Similarly, 30% - 40% of people with CHF are hospitalized at least yearly. The average person has four years to live after being diagnosed.

 

Men die faster. My grandmother lived fifteen years.

Most doctors know CHF by edema and shortness of breath. Closer inspection with a stethoscope reveals the crackling sounds of fluid in the lungs and the valve-sound of heart murmurs. A quick heartbeat discloses overwork. A tap on the chest reveals trapped fluids. X-Rays display an enlarged heart and fluid in the lungs. An electrocardiography detects irregular heartbeat and stress on the heart.

Once a diagnosis is made, a number of things can be done.

By the patient:

• Stop smoking
• Control hypertension, cholesterol, and diabetes
• Eat a sensible diet — low calories, saturated fats, and salts
• Limit fluid intake, especially alcohol
• Note weight daily to catch fluid buildup
• Start a doctor-approved aerobic exercise program

By drugs:

• Diuretics to encourage urination
• Inotropics to increase the heart's pumping ability
• Vasodilators to open narrowed blood vessels
• Calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and Angiotensin II receptor blockers, to lower blood pressure and keep vessels open
• Beta-blockers to increase ability to exercise

In the blood vessels:

• Angioplasty — a catheter tipped with a small balloon is inserted into plaqued vessels and inflated at the site of trouble, flattening the deposits against the vessel wall.
• Stenting — used with angioplasty. Introduction of a small piece of meshed metal at the site of blockage to prevent plaque regrowth.
• Inotropic drug therapy — medicine administered directly through a catheter in a vein. Increases the heart's ability to beat.

By surgery:

• Replacement or repair of faulty heart valves
• Insertion of a pacemaker
• Correction of congenital defects
• Heart transplantation

 

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Sources

 

American Heart Association.
www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4855

Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.
www.tmc.edu/thi/chf.htm

emedicine.
www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic108.htm