HEART FAILURE

Heart Failure, commonly referred to as Congestive Heart Failure simply put, is the heart’s inability to sufficiently fill with blood OR it’s inability to distribute a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body.

When defining Heart Failure one must consider Blood Pressure. Blood Pressure has two gages-the systolic (the top number on the reading) which is the usual rhythmic contraction, following each dilation (diastole) during which the blood is driven onward from the chambers of the heart to the body and the diastolic (the bottom number on the reading) which is the usual rhythmic dilation, following each contraction (systole), during which the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers of the heart fill with blood.

Heart failure is categorized by which side of the heart that is affected (the right or left). Each side experiences different malfunctions and different symptoms. A patient suffers from dysfunction on one side or the other, whether the occurrence is from the relaxation (diastole-see above) or contraction (systole-see above).

A few of the common causes of Heart Failure range from Genetics, abnormal Blood Pressure, Infection, Alcohol Consumption, Anemia and Heartworms. Some are reversible with proper care and treatment while others can be fatal.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, even when lying down, a chronic cough, and general tiredness and weakness.

Diagnosis of Heart Failure includes a thorough medical history and may be followed by Blood Tests, Urine Tests, a Chest X-ray, an Echocardiogram (which helps identify Systolic Heart Failure from Diastolic Heart Failure-See above), Ejection Fraction, an Electrocardiogram, Coronary Catheterization (Angiogram), or a Nuclear Scan. Future articles will explore each of these in greater depth.

When approaching treatment personal statistics (family history, age, weight, etc.) are greatly considered. While Heart Failure cannot be completely cured, personal changes in diet or exercise may help subdue the problem. Medications such as ACE Inhibitors, Beta Blockers, or Diuretics may be prescribed. An in-depth discussion with a physician will lead a patient in the right direction for living with Heart Failure.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) in conjunction with the New York Heart Association (NYHA) have identified guidelines for the four stages (A thru D) and the four classifications (I thru IV) associated with Heart Failure.

While much progress is being made in the field of proper diagnosis and treatment, the complexity of the disease dictates strict attention to medical care.