Congestive heart failure (CHF)

Description

The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins. In patients with the congestive heart failure, pumping power of the heart is reduced. The weakness of left ventricle of the heart has as a consequence accumulation of fluids in the lungs, which results with breathing problems, and the consequence of weakness of the right ventricle of the heart is creation of fluid in the legs (edema) and the abdomen (ascites). The congestive heart failure can have several causes, out of which the most common is the high blood pressure (hypertension), heart attacks, heart viral infection (myocarditis), congenital heart defects and diseases of heart valves. Condition of the person suffering from congestive heart failure can become worse if taking too much salt, stops taking medicines or falls ill with other disease like pneumonia.

Symptoms

Shortness of breath, difficult breathing particularly if the person is in lying position (orthopnea), sudden awakening due to loss of breath (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea), swollen legs (edema), accumulation of fluids in the abdomen (ascites), shortness of breath during exercising.

Overview

Anamnesis is being taken and physical examination is being done. The objective is to determine the cause of heart weakness and to remove damaging consequences. When the cause is determined, stadium of the disease can be assessed with X-rays, blood analysis and echocardiogram.

Tests

Complete blood count (CBC), biochemical blood analysis, electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), level of troponin and X-rays.

Additional analyses

Echocardiogram, brain natriuretic peptide.

Specialists

Cardiology, General Practice and Internal Medicine

Therapy

Therapy depends on the stadium of disease and severity of the symptoms. Treatment includes: blood pressure control with medicines for blood pressure, ejection of fluids with diuretics and oxygenotherapy. Removal of the causes of exacerbated condition of the person with congestive heart failure is indispensable for the recovery. In severe cases, when regular therapy does not give results, heart transplantation should be done.