Congestive Heart Failure Facts

Being diagnosed with heart failure is a frightening experience. You must realize, however, that the term "heart failure" is used to describe a process by which the heart no longer functions as well as it once did. It does not mean that your heart has stopped working entirely. Congestive heart failure is a term commonly used to refer to any patient who is suffering from reduced heart capacity.

The Facts

• Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition by which the heart muscle suffers a reduced functioning capability and is unable to pump the proper amounts of blood through the body. When heart capacity is reduced, blood collects in the body tissue. This can cause fluid buildup in other organs. CHF is directly related to the failure of the left side of the heart. When the left side of the heart begins to lose pumping capacity, fluid may build up in the lungs, causing the "congestion" associated with CHF.

Symptoms

• CHF gives many early warning signs to patients that something is wrong. Shortness of breath caused by fluid collecting in the lungs is a primary symptom of this form of heart failure. Another common symptom is swelling. Because the blood causes fluid to build up in the body, patients may notice their extremities swelling and may also experience more frequent urination. An irregular heartbeat and weight gain from fluid retention are also symptoms of CHF.

Causes

• A variety of conditions can contribute to the development of CHF in an individual. The most common contributor is blocked arteries. When arteries become partially blocked with fatty deposits, the heart muscle does not receive the amount of blood that it needs in order to stay healthy or to keep the rest of the body healthy. After prolonged periods of this, sections of the heart become weak and no longer function as they should. Other potential causes of CHF are drug use, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Diagnosis

• CHF is diagnosed by a series of medical tests conducted by your doctor. A chest x-ray may be performed in order to search for any fluid building up in your lungs. Your doctor will most likely perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure your heart rhythm. In an ECG, you will be fitted with a series of electrodes that measure your heart activity and report any potential problems. Blood tests may also help to identify CHF by allowing doctors to check for reduced function in other organs that can be caused by CHF. The heart may produce certain hormones in excess when it is under extreme stress. Doctors may also test your blood for signs of these hormones.

Treatment

• After being diagnosed with CHF, take extreme care with the amount of salt you eat on a daily basis. Salt causes the body to naturally retain fluids. CHF patients already retain too many fluids therefore salt intake is reduced or eliminated in these patients. Fluid intake is also closely monitored. Patients are typically prescribed diuretics to aid in the elimination of excess fluids. Sometimes the cause of CHF can be remedied and the progression of the disease can be reversed. In cases in which the disease was caused by blocked arteries, the arteries can be surgically unblocked and blood flow will once again return to the heart. This will cause the progression of CHF to cease and, in some cases, potentially reverse it, at least partially.

Prevention

• Those who have a family history of CHF suffer a higher risk of eventually becoming CHF patients themselves. Knowing the risk factors that can be controlled, however, can help you and your loved ones stay healthy even with a higher genetic risk. One of the greatest risk factors is high blood pressure. If you suffer from high blood pressure, keep it as under control as you possibly can with medication and lifestyle changes. Obesity is also a contributing factor to CHF. Weight control, coupled with not abusing alcohol or other drugs, will go a long way toward keeping you and your heart as healthy as possible.