heart failure
Heart failure is a condition where the heart muscle does not pump blood properly Some conditions, such as narrowing of the heart's arteries (coronary artery disease) and high blood pressure, cause the heart to weaken or stiffen over time, preventing it from filling and pumping blood normally.
Heart failure cannot always be cured, but treatment can relieve signs and symptoms and prolong life. Lifestyle changes such as exercise, reducing salt in your diet, managing stress and losing weight can improve your life
One way to prevent heart failure is to control the conditions that cause heart failure. These include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity
Heart failure often develops after other heart-damaging or debilitating diseases Weakening of the heart is not a prerequisite for the development of heart failure It can also develop as a result of hardening of the heart
In heart failure, the ventricles stiffen and do not fill properly between beats. In some cases, the heart muscle can be damaged or weakened, and the ventricles can become enlarged to the point where the heart can no longer pump blood around the body. Over time, the heart cannot cope with the obligation to supply blood to the body
Ejection fraction is an important parameter that shows how efficiently the heart pumps blood It is used in the classification and treatment of heart failure A healthy heart has an ejection fraction of 50% or greater, meaning that more than 50% of the blood in the ventricles is pumped during each beat. Heart failure can develop against a background of normal ejection fraction This happens when the heart muscle becomes stiff, for example due to high blood pressure
In congestive heart failure, fluid accumulates in the liver, abdomen, lower extremities, and lungs. Not all heart failure is cumulative You may have shortness of breath or weakness and not have fluid retention
Heart failure can involve the left ventricle, the right ventricle, or both. Generally, heart failure starts in the left ventricle, which is the main chamber of the heart
Left sided heart failure - fluid accumulates in the lungs and causes respiratory failure
Right-sided heart failure - fluid builds up in the abdomen, legs and arms, causing swelling
Systolic heart failure The left ventricle cannot contract hard enough
Diastolic heart failure (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) The left ventricle fails to relax or fill completely, indicating a filling problem
Any of the following conditions can damage or weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure Some you may not know you have:
- Coronary artery disease and heart attack Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease and the most common cause of heart failure Over time, the arteries feeding the heart become narrowed due to plaque build-up This process is called atherosclerosis A buildup of plaque can reduce blood supply to the heart
- A heart attack develops if the fatty plaques formed on the inner wall of the arteries burst. At this time, a blood clot forms and blocks a blood vessel supplying the heart, causing the heart to contract less and is often permanently damaged. If the damage is significant, the heart muscle weakens
- High blood pressure (hypertension) Blood pressure is the force with which the heart pushes blood through the arteries If the pressure is high, the heart has to work harder to distribute the blood properly
- Over time, the heart muscle thickens and compensates by overworking As a result, the muscle weakens and can become stiff, weak, and unable to pump enough blood
- Defects of heart valves Heart valves ensure proper blood flow in the heart A damaged valve (due to a defect, coronary disease, infection) forces the heart to work harder to keep blood flowing
- Over time, overwork weakens the heart Defective valves can be replaced or repaired if diagnosed in time
- Heart muscle damage – cardiomyopathy If the heart muscle is damaged due to any disease, infection, alcoholism, medication or drug toxicity (cocaine or chemotherapy drugs)
- Genetic factors Genetics play a certain role in the development of cardiomyopathic diseases, such as: hypertrophic, dilated, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies, left ventricular contraction defect or restrictive cardiomyopathy
- Myocarditis Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle Most often it is caused by viruses and as a result we get left heart failure
- Congenital heart defects If you have a heart valve or cell defect, the healthy part of the heart has to work harder to pump enough blood, which can lead to heart failure.
- pathological heart rhythm-arrhythmia Arrhythmias can cause the heart to beat faster, making the heart work harder Over time, the heart muscle weakens and failure develops A slow heart rate prevents the heart from pumping enough blood and can also lead to heart failure
- Other diseases Chronic diseases such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, iron accumulation, protein accumulation-amyloidosis
Causes of acute heart failure include heart-damaging viruses, acute infections, allergic reactions, blood clots in the lungs, certain medications, and systemic illnesses.
Heart failure can be chronic or acute
Signs and symptoms of heart failure include:
- Heart failure when exercising or lying down
- General weakness and fatigue
- Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
- Inability to exercise Call 911 if you have the following symptoms:
- chest pain
- heart failure and severe general weakness
- rapid or irregular heartbeat associated with shortness of breath, chest pain and heart failure
- sudden, severe shortness of breath and Do not diagnose yourself Call 911 for emergency help Emergency doctors will adjust your condition and find out if there is heart failure
If you have been diagnosed with heart failure and your symptoms suddenly worsen or you develop new signs or symptoms, this may mean that your existing heart failure has worsened or is not being treated. Call your doctor immediately
