Heart failure (HF) is defined as a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional problems that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or eject blood.
In simple terms means inability of heart to pump enough blood into the circulation to meet body’s oxygen demand and metabolic needs.
It is a long standing condition
About 4.5 to 5 liters of blood should be pumped by heart every minute whenever the heart muscles may get thickened or damaged and is unable to pump this required amount of blood heart failure occurs
Ineffective pumping leads to stasis of blood in the lung and leads to breathing difficulty, moreover as body muscles lack blood supply leads to fatigue
Inadequate blood supply in kidney affects excretion of water and salts activate certain mechanisms in body leading to fluid accumulation in the body e.g. leg swelling
It is estimated that over 5 million Americans have heart attacks and 50,000 cases are newly diagnosed every year, it occurs mainly in geriatric population of 65 years of age
People with uncontrolled diabetes, elevated blood pressure, anemia, recurrent infection, alcoholics, smokers and family members being affected by heart problems are at higher risk
Previous occurrence of heart attack can lead to heart failure as the heart muscle wall is damaged. Long standing lung diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive lung diseases, lung cancer can also cause heart failure
People with kidney problems are more prone to develop heart failure
Recurrent attacks by allergic viruses can increase heart failure
Ageing factor plays a role in bringing physiological changes in heart that can lead to symptoms of heart failure. Deficiency of vitamin D is also known to cause heart failure effects
Doctors consultation is must when you have symptoms like fatigue, weakness, lethargy, breathing difficulty, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, coughing and spitting out of blood and abnormal breathing sounds, abdominal pain especially in night times and leg swellings with pit formation on applying pressure with the thumb, sometimes nail can become mild reddish in some cases, bluish discoloration of finger tip can also be noted
All patients will not present with all the symptoms only a few symptoms of above listed can be noted depending on side of heart affected and the cause
In already known case of heart failure patients cold extremities is in important sign of worsening heart failure
Treatment can be prescription of medications to relieve symptoms and longtime follow up.
Surgeries are done for other cardiac conditions that may lead to heart failure,
Heart failure cannot be completely cured only can be kept under control
Before finalizing the treatment the patient has to undergo go investigations like ECG, ECHO, blood cell counts, coronary angiogram, CT scan, cardiac MRI etc
The patient is advised to take adequate bed rest preferably elevated head position supported by pillows, consuming small and frequent meals, restriction on fluid and salt intake, strict control of alcohol intake and smoking cessation is suggested
Left untreated it can be life threatening and consequences of the disease cannot be completely assessed even can result in death
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