Live Life Team
Definition:
Congestive heart failure also known as CHF can be defined as failure of the heart to pump blood. This results in accumulation of excess fluid in the body leading to congestion of major organs especially lungs.
Causes:
CHF is becoming increasingly common amongst old age people and this can be attributed to medical field advances which have prolonged the average life span of the people resulting in increased cardiac pt amongst the elderly.
The exact causes of CHF is unknown, however it is believed to be multi factorial in causes and the most common factors leading to this condition are
Hypertension.
Hyper cholesterol
Obese people
Cardio myopathy
Coronary diseases
Infection of heart valves
Alcohol
Smoking
Failure of kidney
Angina pectoris
Diabetes
Autoimmune disorder
Aging
Hyper triglycerides.
Hyperthyroidism,
Symptoms:
The symptoms of CHF are very identical to those with pulmonary diseases, the most common complaints that a pt with CHF are
Shortness of breath: Pt usually complains that they are not able to perform activities due to shortness of breath; depending on the severity of the CHF there activity will be limited.
Breathless on rest: this is the symptom which occurs in the final stage of CHF, where the pt experiences breathless even while resting.
Orthopnea: Pt will experience severe breathless while lying down.
Nocturnal dyspnoea: Pt complains of breathless leading them to wake up in the middle of the night so that they can get air.
Swelling of feet’s and ankles, due to fluid accumulation in the body.
Cough with mucus often blood tinged.
Weight gain due to accumulation of fluid.
Chest pain, which decreases on resting.
Heart attacks.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosing a CHF from other systemic illness is very necessary. Usually the symptoms, its onset and progression will lead the doctor to suspect CHF. Then the pt will be subjected to undergo certain tests which will tell the doctor in what stage the pt is in. The American heart Association has classified heart failure into 4 stages.
Common tests involved in diagnosis of CHF are.
12 Lead ECG: this is very useful to identify previous infarct or ischemia of the heart, it also useful to diagnose bundle branch block.
Chest X-ray: the size of the heart can be seen along with signs present in the lungs due to accumulation of fluid.
Echocardiography: A 2D echo is very useful to see any structural abnormality of the heart.
Angiography: to see any block in the vessels supplying heart muscles.
Cardiac CT and MRI; non invasive technique useful in seeing changes to the heart.
Treatment:
The treatment to CHF includes treating the factors which causes CHF and reducing the symptoms, changes in lifestyle, diet and exercise habits benefits the pt.
The most common drugs include
Diuretics: to remove excess fluid.
Antihypertensive: to reduce the after load of the heart.
B-Blockers: to slow cardiac rate.
Cholesterol lowering drugs.
