Everything You Need to Know ABout Heart Failure

Heart failure is a chronic heart muscle problem in which the heart stops working suddenly, and finds it difficult to pump blood. This condition is often incurable but can be managed through proper medications. Common diagnostic tests include, blood test, echocardiogram, ECG, X-ray, Breathing or lung function test. Major symptoms shown by heart failure patients are chest pain, anorexia, palpitations, fatigue. 

It has been studied that patients who receive proper medications after heart failure, regularly, can enjoy their lives normally. The exact problem arises due to the backflow of blood towards lungs, and lower body tissue. Back flowing of blood leads to congestion in lungs and fluid build up in lower limbs. This causes swelling in feets and legs, shortness of breath, and bluish skin color called cyanosis. 

What is Heart Failure

Heart failure refers to a chronic heart muscle condition in which the heart stops working suddenly, and finds it difficult to pump blood. This condition is often incurable but can be managed through proper medications. It has been studied that patients who receive proper medications after heart failure, regularly, can enjoy their lives normally. According to the studies done at American Heart Association, the exact problem arises due to the backflow of blood towards lungs, and lower body tissue. Back flowing of blood leads to congestion in lungs and fluid build up in lower limbs. This causes swelling in feets and legs, shortness of breath, and bluish skin color called cyanosis. 

Types of Heart Failure

Heart failure is classified on the basis of calculated LVEF- (left ventricular ejection fraction) and symptoms.   

1. 1. Systolic heart failure
2. 2. Preserved ejection fraction- heart failure
3. 3. Biventricular heart failure
4. 4. Right-sided heart failure
5. 5. Left-sided heart failure
6.  

Systolic heart failure

A medical condition in which the heart’s left ventricle (left lower part of the heart) is not able to contract properly. Left ventricle contracts to push blood throughout the body tissues. 

Preserved ejection fraction

Heart failure (HFpEF)- A medical condition in which the heart’s left ventricle have abnormally high filling pressure. However, the left ventricular ejection fraction is normal. These patients will show heart failure symptoms but not showing diastolic dysfunction on ECG, fulfils the criteria for Preserved ejection fraction- heart failure. 

Biventricular heart failure

A medical condition in which the heart’s left ventricle as well as the right ventricle failed to complete the pumping action. The patients with biventricular heart failure show the combination of both the left and right ventricular symptoms. 

Right-sided heart failure

A medical condition in which the heart’s right ventricle is finding it hard to pump enough blood to lungs. 

Left-sided heart failure

A medical condition in which the heart’s left ventricle is finding it hard to pump enough blood to the body. Blood congests the lungs and causes shortness of breath and other breathing problems. 

Cause of Heart Failure

Heart failure is caused by various factors that indirectly or directly affect the heart functions. The major causes are listed below:

1. 1. Hypertension
2. 2. Uncontrolled arrhythmia
3. 3. Valvular heart problem
4. 4. Heart infection like myocarditis
5. 5. Congenital heart problem
6. 6. Diastolic heart failure 
7. 7. Ventricles filling is dysfunctional due to constrictive pericarditis
8. 8. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
9.  

Symptoms of Heart Failure

Heart failure is a serious condition and shortness of breath has always been the most common symptom shown by heart failure patients. Other common symptoms for heart failure patients include, 

1. 1. Chest pain
2. 2. Anorexia
3. 3. Palpitations
4. 4. Fatigue
5.  

Diagnosis of Heart Failure

• 1. Blood test
• 2. Echocardiogram
• 3. ECG
• 4. X-ray
• 5. Breathing or lung function test
• 6. Spirometry
• 7. Peak Flow test
•  

ECG detects heart failure. ECG stands for electrocardiogram, a diagnostic method recommended by the cardiac physicians to the patients with heart problems. This method detects and records the electrical activity of the heart and processes them on a visual screen and on paper to be read by the doctors. THe waves correlates with the heart rhythms which are matched for irregularities, if present. 

Do’s

• 1. Healthy diet with low cholesterol
• 2. Maintain routine of active worklife
• 3. Regular exercises
• 4. Lose weight
• 5. Adequate sleep
•  

Dont’s

• 1. Avoid Tobacco
• 2. Avoid Unhealthy diet with high cholesterol
• 3. Avoid strenuous exercise
• 4. Avoid working for long hours in standing posture
• 5. Avoid illegal drugs
• 6. Avoid unnecessary supplements
• 7. Stop smoke and alcohol
•  

First Signs of Weak Heart

You can observe the signs of heart attack on your own by observing the following given conditions in you; 

• 1. You might have got swelling in your limbs, specially feet and ankles
• 2. Irregular heart rhythm
• 3. Fatigue
• 4. Hard to do exercise
• 5. Persistent cough or wheezing
• 6. Abdominal swelling
• 7. Cough or bloody mucus
•  

Treatment for Heart Failure

Non Surgical Treatment

Medications to treat heart failure:

• 1. Angiotensin II receptor blockers 
• 2. Antiarrhythmics
• 3. Anticoagulants
• 4. Drugs that lower cholesterol
• 5. Beta Blockers
• 6. Digitalis
• 7. Diuretics to balance salt water level in the blood
• 8. Nitrates
•  

Surgical Treatment

• 1. Coronary bypass surgery
• 2. Replacement of heart valve 
• 3. Repair of heart valve
• 4. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators 
• 5. Heart valve repair or replacement
• 6. CRT- (Cardiac resynchronization therapy)
• 7. For ventricles- Ventricular assist devices 
• 8. Heart transplant.
•  

Risk & Complications for heart Failure

The major complication associated with the condition of heart failure is lung congestion and kidney failure. The most common factor for the development of heart failure is age along with a poor fat diet. Some of the most usual risk factors and complications associated with heart failure involve, 

• 1. Damaged kidneys or failure
• 2. Damaged Liver

• 3. Heart valve dysfunction

• 4. Defected heart rhythms
•  

Damage to kidneys

Due to heart failure, the blood flow towards kidneys is reduced, leading to kidney failure. This occurs when the patients did not receive proper treatment post heart failure. These patients will require dialysis to get their blood filtered otherwise, other body organs will be greatly affected. 

Damage to liver

As a result of heart failure, the fluid build up causes a great pressure on the liver Backing up of this liver fluid causes scarring and liver damage. 

Heart valve problems

The heart valves are the gatekeepers which help the blood to flow in the right direction whether it is along gravity or antigravity. The movement of closing and opening of the valves ensures the one way flow. 

Defected heart rhythms

Once it is heart failure the patient can experience irregular heart rhythm problems. 

If Left Untreated   

Heart failure, if left untreated can cause reduction of the blood flow towards kidneys, leading to kidney failure. This occurs when the patients did not receive proper treatment post heart failure. These patients will require dialysis to get their blood filtered otherwise, other body organs will be greatly affected. Also, the fluid build up causes a great pressure on the liver. Backing up of this liver fluid causes scarring and liver damage. It can also lead to irregularities in heart rhythm. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 types of heart failure?

Heart failure is classified on the basis of calculated LVEF- (left ventricular ejection fraction) and symptoms.   

1. 1. Systolic heart failure
2. 2. Preserved ejection fraction- heart failure
3. 3. Right-sided heart failure
4. 4. Left-sided heart failure
5.  

What exactly causes heart failure?

Heart failure is caused by various factors that indirectly or directly affect the heart functions. The exact problem arises due to the backflow of blood towards lungs, and lower body tissue. Back flowing of blood leads to congestion in lungs and fluid build up in lower limbs. This causes swelling in feets and legs, shortness of breath, and bluish skin color called cyanosis. 

The major causes are listed below:

• 1. Hypertension
• 2. Uncontrolled arrhythmia
• 3. Valvular heart problem
• 4. Heart infection like myocarditis
• 5. Congenital heart problem
• 6. Diastolic heart failure 
• 7. Ventricles filling is dysfunctional due to constrictive pericarditis
• 8. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
•  

Can heart failure be cured?

No, heart failure has no cure yet. This condition is often incurable but can be managed through proper medications. It has been studied that patients who receive proper medications after heart failure, regularly, can enjoy their lives normally. According to the studies done at American Heart Association, the exact problem arises due to the backflow of blood towards lungs, and lower body tissue. 

Can ECG detect heart failure?

Yes, ECG detects heart failure. ECG stands for electrocardiogram, a diagnostic method recommended by the cardiac physicians to the patients with heart problems. This method detects and records the electrical activity of the heart and processes them on a visual screen and on paper to be read by the doctors. The waves correlate with the heart rhythms which are matched for irregularities, if present. 

Can I live a normal life with heart failure?

Yes, heart failure patients can live a normal life. This condition is often incurable but can be managed through proper medications. It has been studied that patients who receive proper medications after heart failure, regularly, can enjoy their lives normally. The exact problem arises due to the backflow of blood towards lungs, and lower body tissue. Back flowing of blood leads to congestion in lungs and fluid build up in lower limbs. This causes swelling in feets and legs, shortness of breath, and bluish skin color called cyanosis. 

What are the first signs of a weak heart?

You can observe the signs of heart attack on your own by observing the following given conditions in you; 

1. 1. You might have got swelling in your limbs, specially feet and ankles
2. 2. Irregular heart rhythm
3. 3. Fatigue
4. 4. Hard to do exercise
5. 5. Persistent cough or wheezing
6. 6. Abdominal swelling
7. 7. Cough or bloody mucus
8.  

What is end-stage heart failure?

Most serious condition is the end stage of heart failure. Heart failure patients feel weakness in the heart. 

How do you test for heart failure?

You can test heart failure by observing the following symptoms within your body:

• A. Shortness of breath has always been the most common symptom shown by heart failure patients. 

Other common symptoms for heart failure patients include, 

• 1. Chest pain
• 2. Anorexia
• 3. Palpitations
• 4. Fatigue
•  

Essential methods to confirm the problem of heart failure, include, 

• 1. Blood test
• 2. Echocardiogram
• 3. ECG
• 4. X-ray
• 5. Breathing or lung function test
• 6. Spirometry
• 7. Peak Flow test
•  

ECG detects heart failure. ECG stands for electrocardiogram, a diagnostic method recommended by the cardiac physicians to the patients with heart problems. This method detects and records the electrical activity of the heart and processes them on a visual screen and on paper to be read by the doctors. THe waves correlate with the heart rhythms which are matched for irregularities, if present. 

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