What is Heart Failure? Heart Failure: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Introduction

The heart muscle does not pump blood as well as it should, resulting in heart failure. This indicates that the blood is not providing the body with adequate oxygen and nutrients, which can result in a number of symptoms and consequences. Heart failure typically develops over time and affects millions of individuals globally.

Heart Failure Causes

The heart muscle is harmed or becomes weaker in all cases of heart failure, which can have many different reasons. Among the most frequent causes are:

• Cardiovascular disease (CAD): In this disorder, plaque-containing fatty deposits constrict or obstruct the arteries that provide blood to the heart. As a result, the heart's blood flow is decreased, which may result in chest pain, heart attacks, or heart failure.
• High blood pressure (hypertension): This condition is characterised by an excessively high blood pressure against the arterial walls. This increases the heart's workload and over time may harm the heart muscle.
• "Cardiomyopathy" is a word for illnesses that damage the heart muscle specifically. Cardiomyopathy can be dilated, hypertrophic, or restricted, for example. They may be brought on by toxins, infections, genetic factors, or other health issues.
• Valvular heart disease: This ailment affects the heart valves, causing one or more of them to malfunction. The valves control the amount of blood that flows through the heart chambers. They can impair the heart's ability to pump blood and result in heart failure if they are leaky or stiff.
• Arrhythmias: These are irregular heartbeats that can change the heartbeat's regularity or speed. Blood flow to the body can be decreased by certain arrhythmias that cause the heart to beat too quickly or too slowly. Other arrhythmias can make the heart beat erratically, which can interfere with the heart chambers' ability to coordinate and operate properly.
• More conditions: In addition to diabetes, thyroid disorders, anaemia, sleep apnea, lung diseases, infections, congenital heart defects, and excessive alcohol usage, there are numerous more ailments that might result in or worsen heart failure.

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Heart Failure Symptoms

The kind and severity of the illness affect the heart failure symptoms. While some individuals may not have any symptoms at all, others may experience severe and incapacitating symptoms. Among the most typical signs are:

• Dyspnea, often known as shortness of breath, is the sensation of having trouble breathing or of not obtaining enough air. It can happen during strenuous activities like walking or stair climbing as well as passive ones like lying down or napping. Additionally, it may result in coughing up white or pink mucus flecked with blood or wheezing.
• Fatigue and weakness: This is a state of feeling weak or exhausted that impairs one's ability to carry out everyday tasks and enjoy life. It may be brought on by poor gas exchange in the lungs or by diminished blood supply to the muscles and organs.
• Swelling (edoema): This is an accumulation of fluid in the tissues, particularly in the legs, ankles, and feet, as well as the belly and lungs. It may result in weight gain, bloating, pain, or respiratory problems.
• Palpitations: This is the sense of your own heartbeat in your chest or neck. It can be rapid or irregular. It may be brought on by arrhythmias that alter the heartbeat's rhythm or rate. Additionally, it may result in perspiration, fainting, or chest pain.
• Reduced ability to exercise: Physical performance or endurance declines, which restricts everyday activities and interests. Breathlessness, exhaustion, weakness, or swelling that impairs mobility and stamina can be the underlying cause.

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Heart Failure Treatment

Heart failure is a serious ailment that needs to be managed by a doctor. The objectives of treatment are to reduce disease symptoms, avoid complications, and enhance survival and standard of living. The available therapies include:

•  Medications: anticoagulants (blood thinners), ivabradine (Corlanor), and sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto). These drugs may lower blood pressure, lessen fluid retention, moderate heart rate, avoid blood clots, or increase cardiac performance.
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT): This pacemaker type uses electrical impulses to assist both bottom chambers of the heart beat in unison. This may increase the heart's capacity and effectiveness as a pump.
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD): This machine keeps track of the heartbeat and, if necessary, shocks the body with electricity to treat life-threatening arrhythmias. Thus, abrupt cardiac death may be avoided.
• Ventriloquist assist device (VAD): This mechanical pump aids the heart in delivering blood to the body. It can be used as a long-term remedy for end-stage heart failure or as a stopgap solution while waiting for a heart transplant.
• A heart transplant replaces a damaged heart with a healthy one from a donor during surgery. For certain persons with severe heart failure who do not respond to other treatments, it may be a life-saving choice.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): This procedure uses healthy blood vessels from another part of the body to bypass blocked or constricting arteries in the heart, improving blood flow to the organ. This can lessen chest pain and stop the heart muscle from suffering additional harm.
• Valve repair or replacement: This procedure involves repairing or replacing a heart valve that is malfunctioning and allowing blood to leak back into the heart chambers or obstructing blood flow out of the heart. The heart's performance and effectiveness can be enhanced by this.
• Ongoing care: Because heart failure is a chronic condition, you should often check in with your doctor for updates. To assess your condition and modify your treatment plan, you might need to have blood tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, or other procedures. A cardiac rehabilitation programme may also be necessary for you to participate in if you want to manage your disease and enhance your quality of life. This programme offers education, counselling, and exercise training.

Summary

When the heart is experiencing heart failure, the blood is not being pumped as efficiently as it should be, which can result in a number of symptoms and consequences. The heart muscle is harmed or becomes weaker in all cases of heart failure, which can have many different reasons. Heart failure can be treated with dietary adjustments, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, surgeries, and continued care. The objectives of treatment are to lessen symptoms, avoid complications, halt the spread of the disease, and increase survival and quality of life. Heart failure is a serious condition that necessitates medical care and management, yet many heart failure sufferers can lead active, fulfilling lives when their condition is under good control.