Congestive heart failure, also called CHF, is a condition characterized by loss of heart's ability to pump blood properly, which slows the transport of oxygen to tissues, resulting in symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath, and increased heart rate. Understand heart failure.
CHF is more common in the elderly and people with hypertension, but its occurrence can also be influenced by lifestyle habits, such as frequent consumption of alcohol and smoking, for example.
The diagnosis of this disease is made by the cardiologist through the exercise test, chest x-ray and echocardiogram, in which the heart can be checked. It is important that the disease is identified early on for the treatment to show good results. Usually the doctor indicates the use of pressure-reducing medications, in addition to recommending an improvement in lifestyle.
Symptoms of CHF
The main symptom of CHF is the increase in heart rate in an attempt to regularize the transport of oxygen to the rest of the body, which can result in cardiac hypertrophy. Other symptoms that may be indicative of CHF are:
- Swelling of 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;
- Willing to urinate more often, especially at night.
In addition, due to the difficulty in transporting oxygen, other organs, such as the lungs and kidneys, may fail.
In congestive heart failure, the reduction of 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 correct oxygenation of tissues and the proper functioning of the body.
However, increased heart rate leads to 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 tissues, the main ones being:
- Serious Coronary Artery Disease, which occurs due to the obstruction of blood vessels due to the presence of fat plaques;
- Valve stenosis, which is the narrowing of the heart valves due to aging, rheumatic fever or due to aging;
- Cardiac arrhythmia, which is characterized by change in heart rate, causing the heart to beat more slowly or faster.
- Diastolic dysfunction, in which the heart can not relax after contraction, which is more frequent in people with hypertension and the elderly.
In addition to these causes, CHF can also occur due to excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, smoking, rheumatic problems, obesity, diabetes, viral infections or excessive deposition of iron in the tissues.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure is done according to the direction of the cardiologist and is done according to the cause of the disease, and it is usually indicated the use of diuretic and antihypertensive drugs, such as Furosemide and Spironolactone, which should be used as recommended by a physician. Learn more about treatment for heart failure.
In addition, it is important to pay attention to food, avoiding the maximum salt consumption, and it is important to practice regular physical activities. Cardiac transplantation is only indicated when drug treatment is not effective.
See in the following video how feeding is important in the treatment of Heart Failure:
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