Congestive heart failure, also called CHF, is a condition characterized by the loss of the heart's ability to pump blood properly, which decreases the transport of oxygen to the tissues, resulting in symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath and increased heartbeat. Understand what heart failure is.
CHF is more common in the elderly and people with hypertension, but its occurrence can also be influenced by lifestyle habits, such as frequently consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking, for example.
The diagnosis of this disease is made by the cardiologist through the stress test, chest x-ray and echocardiogram, in which the functioning of the heart can be verified. It is important that the disease is identified in the first symptoms for the treatment to show good results. Usually, the doctor recommends the use of medications that reduce pressure, in addition to the recommendation to improve lifestyle habits.
Symptoms of CHF
The main symptom of CHF is shortness of breath. This tends to worsen over time, becoming felt even when the patient is at rest. Generally, tiredness gets worse when you lie down and can lead to a night cough.
Other symptoms that may be indicative of CHF are:
- Swelling of the lower limbs and abdominal region; Excessive tiredness; Weakness; Shortness of breath; Difficulty sleeping; Severe and bloody cough; Lack of appetite and weight gain; Mental confusion; Willingness to urinate more often, especially at night.
In addition, due to the difficulty in transporting oxygen, there may be failure of other organs, such as the lungs and kidneys.
In congestive heart failure, the decrease in blood pumping to the rest of the body causes an overload of the heart, which results in an increase in heart rate in an attempt to promote the correct oxygenation of tissues and the proper functioning of the body.
However, the increase in heart rate leads to an imbalance between intra and extracellular fluids, resulting in fluid entering the tissues, which promotes swelling of the lower limbs and abdominal region.
Possible causes
Congestive heart failure can be caused by any condition that alters the functioning of the heart and the transport of oxygen to the tissues, the main ones being:
- Severe Coronary Artery Disease, which happens due to the obstruction of blood vessels due to the presence of fatty plaques; Valve stenosis, which is the narrowing of the heart valves due to aging or rheumatic fever; Cardiac arrhythmia, which is characterized by changes in the heartbeat, causing the heart to beat slower or faster. Diastolic dysfunction, in which the heart is unable to relax after contraction, this being the most frequent cause in people with hypertension and the elderly.
In addition to these causes, CHF can also happen due to excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, smoking, rheumatic problems, obesity, diabetes, viral infections or excessive iron deposition in the tissues.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure is done under the guidance of the cardiologist, and according to the cause of the disease, the use of diuretic medications such as Furosemide and Spironolactone, and beta-blockers such as Carvedilol, Bisoprolol or Metoprolol, which should be used according to medical recommendation. Find out more about treatment for heart failure.
In addition, it is important to pay attention to food, avoiding excessive salt consumption, and to practice regular physical activities. Heart transplantation is only indicated when drug treatment is not effective.
See in the video below how food is important in the treatment of heart failure:
