Congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure is a condition in which heart is unable to pump blood properly to different organs of the body.
As a result, the adequate requirement of oxygen by the organs is successfully met. Thus eventually the performance of heart gradually decreases and leads to the failure of heart.

This is condition of congestive heart failure can occur due to many disorders of heart:

1. HEART ATTACK:
This weakens the muscles of the ventricles which leads to decreased pumping of ventricles.
And such a condition is called SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION.

2. HEMOCHROMATOSIS (AMYLOIDOSIS):
This causes the stiffening or tightening of the heart muscle which impairs the ventricles from relaxing and filling.
And such a condition is called DIASYSYTOLIC DYSFUNCTION.

3. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:
This results in thickened or in other words hypertrophied heart.
Thus degrades the pumping action of the heart.

4. HYPERTHYROIDISM OR ANEMIA:
In this case in spite of normal pumping action of heart the increased demand of oxygen by the body tissues is not met successfully.
Thus the heart fails to supply the demanded amount of oxygen to the body.

SYMPTOMS OF CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE:

These are the prominent symptoms which are seen in the patients suffering from congestive heart disease:
1. FATIQUE:
This is an early symptom and can be considered as a non specific symptom.
It can be overcome by regular physical exercise as the dizziness felt by the body is decreased.

2. EDEMA (SWELLING):
Is one of the most indicating symptoms as when the body becomes overloaded with fluid due to congestive heart failure swelling is noticed.
And swelling is mainly observed in feet, legs, hands and calves.

3. SHORTNESS OF BREATH:
As the fluid might get accumulated in the lungs thus this can leave the patient grasping for air.
This happens mainly due to the stress being felt by the lungs.

4. OTHER SYMPTOMS ARE:
• Problems in having a sound sleep.
• Extra fluid will reach to a condition of often micturition.
• Having abdominal pain.
• Feeling of nausea.

DIAGNOSIS OF CONGESTIVE HEART DISEASE:

The diagnosis mainly depends on:
• Medical history of patient.
• The physical examination of the patient.
• And the study of the current symptoms of the patient as mentioned above

Some of the causes which a play major role in the diagnosis are:
1. Prior history of heart attacks.
2. Presence of extra fluids in the body leading to swellings mainly in legs and lower body parts.
3. Characterizing the size and the sound of heart.
4. Increased heart rate or pulse rate.

EXAMINATION OF HEART THROUGH TESTS:
1. ECG: determining the PGRS waveform of the heart through the electrical signal obtained of the heart.
2. ECHOCARDIOGRAM: studying the sound signals obtained through the Doppler ultrasound technique.
3. NUCLEAR MEDICINE: helps in examining the possibility of inadequate blood supply blood flow.
4. ULTRASOUND: this is used to image the heart muscle, the structure of the valves and the patterns of blood flow.
5. ANGIOGRAPHY: in this dye in inserted through catheter in order to determine the areas of blockage.
6. BNP (BRAIN NATIURETIC PEPTIDE): this is a blood test in which an elevated level is observed if there is any heart failure.

TREATMENT OF CONGESTIVE HEART DISEASE:
1. LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS:
• Salt is to be avoided as sodium increases the fluid accumulation in body’s tissues.
• There should be a regulated amount of fluid which has to be consumed.
• For advanced cases of CHF there should be total intake of water from all sources of only 2 quarts.
• There has to be a regular weight check up so that there can be an early account of fluid accumulation.
2. DRUGS INVOLVED:
• Diuretics: which helps in getting rid of excess fluid
• Digoxin: this helps in strengthening the heart.
• Spironolactone and ACE inhibitors: are drugs which help in treating heart failure.

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