| Heart failure also called is congestive | | | | heart failure and then both sides are |
| heart failure. Heart failure becomes | | | | affected. |
| more common with advancing age. Heart | | | | Left-sided heart failure leads to fluid |
| failure is a condition in which the | | | | accumulation in the lungs, which causes |
| heart can't pump enough blood throughout | | | | shortness of breath. Heart failure is a |
| the body. Heart failure is a condition | | | | major cause of sudden death due to |
| in which the heart can't pump enough | | | | production of arrhythmias. Persons with |
| blood throughout the body. Heart failure | | | | diabetes have a much greater risk of |
| develops over time as the pumping action | | | | developing heart failure than those |
| of the heart grows weaker. Heart failure | | | | without because diabetes is associated |
| is a serious condition. It contributes | | | | with other heart failure risk factors |
| to or causes about 300,000 deaths each | | | | such as high blood pressure, obesity and |
| year. About 5 million people in the U.S. | | | | high cholesterol levels. Weight |
| have heart failure. It contributes to | | | | reduction - through physical activity |
| 300,000 deaths each year. It can affect | | | | and dietary modification, as obesity is |
| the left side, the right side, or both | | | | a risk factor for heart failure and |
| sides of the heart. Most cases involve | | | | ventricular hypertrophy. Fluid |
| the left side where the heart can't pump | | | | restriction - patients with CHF have a |
| enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of | | | | diminished ability to excrete free water |
| the body. The most common causes of | | | | load. Sodium restriction - excessive |
| heart failure are hypertension (high | | | | sodium intake may precipitate or |
| blood pressure) and coronary artery | | | | exacerbate heart failure. Moderate |
| disease (for example, you have had a | | | | physical activity, when symptoms are |
| heart attack). Arterial plaque lines the | | | | mild or moderate; or bed rest when |
| inside of the arteries that supply the | | | | symptoms are severe. Another current |
| heart and the rest of the body, meaning | | | | treatment involves the use of left |
| less blood gets to the heart itself, as | | | | ventricular assist devices (LVADs). |
| well as the heart having to work harder | | | | Smoking and drinking alcohol can worsen |
| to push blood through the thinner | | | | heart failure and should be stopped. |
| systemic arteries. | | | | Exercise, weight loss, and stopping |
| Heart failure may result from disorders | | | | smoking help reduce the risk of coronary |
| that cause the heart's walls to stiffen, | | | | artery disease, as do good control of |
| such as infiltrations and infections. | | | | diabetes and lowering of cholesterol |
| Heart failure due to systolic | | | | levels. |
| dysfunction usually develops because the | | | | Treatment for Heart Failure Tips |
| heart cannot contract normally. Heart | | | | 1. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) |
| failure has two main forms: systolic | | | | inhibitors drugs help people with heart |
| dysfunction (which is more common) and | | | | failure live longer and feel better. |
| diastolic dysfunction. In systolic | | | | 2. Diuretics are often called "water |
| dysfunction, the heart contracts less | | | | pills" because they make you urinate |
| forcefully and cannot pump out as much | | | | more often and help keep fluid from |
| of the blood that is returned to it as | | | | building up in your body. |
| it normally does. Heart valve | | | | 3. Diuretics, or water tablets, which |
| disorders-narrowing (stenosis) of a | | | | work on the kidneys to remove the extra |
| valve, which hinders blood flow through | | | | fluid and salt from the body and lower |
| the heart, or leakage of blood backward | | | | blood pressure. |
| (regurgitation) through a valve-can | | | | 4. ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) |
| cause heart failure. Some heart valve | | | | inhibitors, which lower blood pressure |
| disorders, such as aortic valve | | | | and help the heart to pump more easily. |
| stenosis, hinder blood flow out of the | | | | 5. Digoxin helps the heart by making it |
| heart. Other causes may include diseases | | | | beat more strongly and pump more blood. |
| of the heart valves and weakened heart | | | | 6. Nitrates help with shortness of |
| muscle due to viral infections or their | | | | breath because they reduce the blood |
| poisonous products (called toxins). | | | | pressure in the lungs by widening |
| Individuals with heart failure are | | | | (dilating) blood vessels and allow the |
| sensitive to small shifts in their | | | | heart to work more efficiently. |
| intravascular volume status (the amount | | | | 7.Warfarin stops blood clots from |
| of fluid in their circulatory system). | | | | forming and Aspirin also stops blood |
| Often left heart failure leads to right | | | | clots from forming. |