Heart Failure

       

What is Heart Failure?

       

Heart failure is when the heart loses its ability to pump blood throughout the body to the extent it needs to. Given that this is an essential life process heart failure will pose an immediate risk of loss of life if not addressed quickly. The primary factor in heart failure occurs is the muscles of the heart lose their strength, and this can happen for any number of reasons. When arteries become partly blocked the heart does not get the blood supply it needs, and this is what’s behind coronary artery disease resulting in this condition. 

       

Heart failure usually begins in the left ventricle of the heart, and it is a more urgent cause for concern if it is systolic heart failure. This is when the ventricle isn’t able to contract to squeeze properly and pump blood out of the heart. The same will apply for diastolic heart failure in the left ventricle, which is the opposite problem involving the ventricle not being able to fill with blood sufficiently before ejection. 

       

What Causes Heart Failure?

       

Congestive heart failure is usually the result of a condition, and coronary artery disease is the one that is most often the cause of heart failure. A heart attack can cause it based on the same scenario where the arteries into the heart are blocked by the buildup of fatty deposits. A lack of oxygenated blood will cause the heart muscle to be irreparably damaged and even if a heart attack is not fatal it is fairly common for the heart to have compromised function for the remainder of the person’s life. 

       

Hypertension (high blood pressure) can also be behind what causes heart failure as people with this condition will have their heart working much harder to pump blood through the body as it needs too. The prolonged overexertion of the heart can cause the heart muscles to stiffen. Heart valve disease and myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) can also be possibilities, along with a higher risk of heart failure for people born with congenital heart defects. 

       

An arrythmia is an irregular heartbeat, and it may result in heart failure too if it is not addressed and the rhythm of the heart becomes so skewed that blood is not being ejected from the organ properly. In rarer instances heart failure may be caused by allergic reactions, major body illnesses, blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), medication use, or having a viral infection that attacks heart muscles. 

       

Heart Failure Symptoms

       

It is unlikely a person will not be aware that they are experiencing heart failure. However, heart failure symptoms may come on slowly, or in the event of heart failure caused by heart attack the symptoms may be sudden and emphatic. These symptoms may include: 

       

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

       

Chest pain

       

Swelling in legs, ankles, or feet

       

Fatigue and weakness

       

Shortness of breath

       

Wheezing

       

Chronic coughing and / or cough with white or pink mucus possibly spotted with blood

       

Belly swelling

       

Rapid weight gains due to fluid buildup

       

Appetite loss

       

Fluid buildup

       

Concentration difficulties or inability to stay alert

       

Heart Failure Treatment

       

The most conventional approach to heart failure treatment is to have the person on heart failure prevention medications like Atacand or Coreg.  Recommended lifestyle changes are very commonly a part of the approach to having better heart health, and a person at risk for heart failure may be advised by their doctor to eat healthier, get more cardiovascular exercise, maintain a healthier body weight, reduce stress, or change / discontinue medication use based on whether or not treatment protocols will allow for that.