Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart muscle cannot pump blood efficiently, causing blood and fluid build-up in the body. Congestive heart failure, also known as heart failure, can be a life-threatening condition. However, lifestyle changes and timely treatment can increase life expectancy and improve symptoms.

Certain heart conditions weaken the heart’s ability to pump enough blood with each heartbeat; the heart cannot supply enough oxygen for the body. As a result, blood moves through the body at a slower rate.

As the pressure on the heart increases due to the need to pump more blood for the body, the chambers of the heart may accommodate the change either by stretching to hold more blood or becoming thick and stiff.

Over time, the heart muscle weakens as it tries to pump more blood to meet the body’s needs. Additionally, the lower oxygen levels the organs receive can cause them to retain fluid.

For instance, the kidneys may cause the body to retain more fluid and salt. The body becomes congested if fluid builds up in the arms, legs, lungs, or other organs. The impact on the heart due to this condition is defined as congestive heart failure.

Heart failure generally begins with the heart's left ventricle since this chamber pumps blood to the whole body.

Left-sided heart failure occurs if fluid backs up in the lungs. Symptoms can include shortness of breath. On the other hand, right-sided heart failure occurs if fluid backs up into the abdomen, legs, and feet. Symptoms include swelling in the limbs.

Systolic dysfunction (systolic heart failure) occurs when the heart muscle cannot contract with enough force to push the blood to the rest of the body. This type of heart failure is also called heart failure, with reduced ejection fraction.

Diastolic dysfunction or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction occurs when the ventricles cannot relax fully after each pumping action to fill with enough blood.

Symptoms of heart failure can range from mild to severe, depending on the condition of your heart. Symptoms can include:

• Shortness of breath caused by congested lungs. A weak heart causes fluid to back up in the lungs, which can cause difficulty breathing during physical activity or when lying horizontally.
• A weak heart pumps less blood to your kidneys and causes fluid and water retention. This can result in swollen ankles, legs, and abdomen and weight gain. Additionally, bloating in your stomach may cause a loss of appetite or nausea.
• Decreased blood supply to your major organs and muscles can cause dizziness and fatigue.
• The heart beats faster to pump enough blood to the body, causing an irregular heartbeat.

Congestive heart failure happens due to the heart muscle becoming too weak to pump blood properly. The heart muscle can be damaged due to any of the following conditions.

• Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease and heart failure.
• High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder than usual to circulate blood throughout your body. Over time, it can weaken your heart.
• Damaged heart valves may not keep blood flowing in the proper direction and force the heart to work harder.
• The heart muscle can be damaged due to infections, heavy alcohol or drug use, and as a side-effect of chemotherapy.
• Myocarditis is commonly caused by a virus, including the COVID-19 virus, and can lead to left-sided heart failure.
• Congenital heart defects in the formation of your heart, its chambers, or valves force the healthy parts of your heart to work harder to pump blood. Unless treated, it can lead to heart failure.
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) may cause your heart to beat too fast or too slow, creating extra work for your heart.

To diagnose heart failure, your cardiologist will want to know about your medical history, including any medications you are taking and details about your symptoms and lifestyle habits.

Diagnostic tests that your doctor can use may include an echocardiogram to determine how well your heart pumps blood. The test can measure ejection fraction, which calculates how much blood is pumped out with each heartbeat and can help identify the type of heart failure to determine treatment options.

Blood tests, chest X-rays, and noninvasive stress tests may also help diagnose the extent of your condition.

Today, treatment options for congestive heart failure are more varied and effective than ever before. The goal of treatment is to stop your heart from getting any worse. This can be achieved through a combination of

A carefully constructed treatment plan for cardiac rehabilitation is likely to include tight control over your medication and lifestyle and careful monitoring of the condition.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of congestive heart failure, please call Sydnor Cardiovascular Center to schedule a cardiac consultation with Dr. Lilian Ahiable.

We provide expert care for people with cardiac problems at Sydnor Cardiovascular Center. Entrust your heart health with Dr. Ahiable and our team.

To schedule an appointment, call us at 727-300-2282 or request an appointment online.