What Is Heart Failure?
Causes of heart failure
Conditions that cause disturbances in muscle and heart valves can cause heart failure.
Coronary heart disease, hypertension and cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes disturbances in heart muscle. Some types of congenital heart disease also causes leakage of the heart muscle. As a result of these diseases of the heart muscle can become too weak or too stiff, so the pumping ability of the heart to decrease.
Disorders of the valve may occur due to heart disease rhema or due to degenerative processes due to old age. In general, the affected valve is the mitral valve or aortic valve. The valve can be narrowed or leaking heart resulting swell and eventually weakened heart pump.
Coronary heart disease, hypertension and cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes disturbances in heart muscle. Some types of congenital heart disease also causes leakage of the heart muscle. As a result of these diseases of the heart muscle can become too weak or too stiff, so the pumping ability of the heart to decrease.
Disorders of the valve may occur due to heart disease rhema or due to degenerative processes due to old age. In general, the affected valve is the mitral valve or aortic valve. The valve can be narrowed or leaking heart resulting swell and eventually weakened heart pump.
Symptoms of heart failure
The main symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath. Shortness occurs because of a buildup of fluid in the lungs due to the emptying of the heart which is not optimal due to the weakening of the heart pump. Breathlessness in heart failure has three special features: 1) tightness arise during the move, 2) tightness arises when it's night sleep a few hours, and 3) tightness, especially when lying down position, and improved in a sitting position.
Other symptoms are swelling. Swelling occurs due to a buildup of fluid. The most easily visible is in the limbs. Swollen legs have the characteristics of "pitting", which means when the swelling slowly pressed back. Swelling may also occur in the abdomen, face and scrotum.
Other symptoms are weakness and rapid cape. This complaints body cells due to lack of food due to a weak heart pump.
Based on the symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, heart failure were divided into 4 classes (based division of the New York Heart Association). Class 1 is the lightest, where almost no symptoms unless the move is very heavy. Class 2 is the symptoms arise when doing activities that is slightly heavier than everyday activities. Class 3 is the onset of symptoms on daily activities such as eating, bathing, defecating. And grade 4 is the heaviest, in which symptoms arise even in a resting state.
Other symptoms are swelling. Swelling occurs due to a buildup of fluid. The most easily visible is in the limbs. Swollen legs have the characteristics of "pitting", which means when the swelling slowly pressed back. Swelling may also occur in the abdomen, face and scrotum.
Other symptoms are weakness and rapid cape. This complaints body cells due to lack of food due to a weak heart pump.
Based on the symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, heart failure were divided into 4 classes (based division of the New York Heart Association). Class 1 is the lightest, where almost no symptoms unless the move is very heavy. Class 2 is the symptoms arise when doing activities that is slightly heavier than everyday activities. Class 3 is the onset of symptoms on daily activities such as eating, bathing, defecating. And grade 4 is the heaviest, in which symptoms arise even in a resting state.
Supporting investigation
If you experience the above symptoms , the doctor will perform several tests to confirm the diagnosis of heart failure .
ECG can indicate the presence of coronary heart disease and a thickening of the heart muscle cavities . ECG can indicate heart rhythm disorders , such as atrial fibrillation , which can strengthen the suspicion of heart failure . Chest X-ray examination showed an enlarged heart and fluid buildup in the lungs.
Echocardiography is the most important examination for the diagnosis of heart failure . Echocardiography can determine the strength of the heart pump , assessing the dimensions of spaces of the heart , muscle thickness of the heart chambers , and the condition of the valve .
ECG can indicate the presence of coronary heart disease and a thickening of the heart muscle cavities . ECG can indicate heart rhythm disorders , such as atrial fibrillation , which can strengthen the suspicion of heart failure . Chest X-ray examination showed an enlarged heart and fluid buildup in the lungs.
Echocardiography is the most important examination for the diagnosis of heart failure . Echocardiography can determine the strength of the heart pump , assessing the dimensions of spaces of the heart , muscle thickness of the heart chambers , and the condition of the valve .
Handling of heart failure
Under conditions of acute heart failure, where the symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, sudden, patients should be hospitalized, in most cases should be treated in the intensive care unit or semi-intensive.
When an acute condition is resolved, the treatment can be done on an outpatient basis. Heart failure treatment depends on the cause, but in general there are some medications that will be given a doctor.
Diuretics drug is a drug that causes diuresis or increased urine production and excretion. The goal is to get rid of excess body fluids due to the inability of the heart because of weak pump discharge.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers and aldosterone antagonists are drugs to compensate for the effects of hormones are overworked in heart failure patients. Due to the weakening of the heart pumps the body compensates by producing the hormone adrenaline and aldosterone excess. The purpose of the production of these hormones in the beginning to help improve the work of the heart, but that excessive production eventually worsen heart conditions. The doctor will give some or all four kinds of drugs to compensate for the adverse effects of these hormones.
Doctors also might add drugs known as digitalis, a drug that increases the ability of the pump function of the heart muscle. The drug is also bermanfaaat in heart failure with abnormal rhythm is atrial fibrillation.
When the cause of heart failure is coronary heart disease, the doctor will recommend to angiogragi coronary (heart catheterization) and may recommend coronary intervention with stenting (ring) coronary or coronary bypass surgery.
When the cause of heart failure is a valve disorder, your doctor will likely suggest for valve repair or replacement surgery.
When an acute condition is resolved, the treatment can be done on an outpatient basis. Heart failure treatment depends on the cause, but in general there are some medications that will be given a doctor.
Diuretics drug is a drug that causes diuresis or increased urine production and excretion. The goal is to get rid of excess body fluids due to the inability of the heart because of weak pump discharge.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers and aldosterone antagonists are drugs to compensate for the effects of hormones are overworked in heart failure patients. Due to the weakening of the heart pumps the body compensates by producing the hormone adrenaline and aldosterone excess. The purpose of the production of these hormones in the beginning to help improve the work of the heart, but that excessive production eventually worsen heart conditions. The doctor will give some or all four kinds of drugs to compensate for the adverse effects of these hormones.
Doctors also might add drugs known as digitalis, a drug that increases the ability of the pump function of the heart muscle. The drug is also bermanfaaat in heart failure with abnormal rhythm is atrial fibrillation.
When the cause of heart failure is coronary heart disease, the doctor will recommend to angiogragi coronary (heart catheterization) and may recommend coronary intervention with stenting (ring) coronary or coronary bypass surgery.
When the cause of heart failure is a valve disorder, your doctor will likely suggest for valve repair or replacement surgery.
Living with heart failure
In most cases, the condition of heart failure can not be restored to normal. If your doctor diagnose heart failure, chances are that you have to take medication for the rest of your life. However, the drugs that doctors prescribe to help cope with the symptoms, so you can be free of symptoms and longer life.
In addition to medication, you should also change your lifestyle. The food was too salty and fatty foods should be avoided. Weight loss should be lowered. Likewise, the level of stress. Sport must still be done, of course, in accordance with the doctor's instructions, according to the severity of your heart condition.
If you suffer from heart failure, you and your family need to understand that this disease is a serious illness, therefore it is very necessary family support. The life expectancy of a patient with heart failure also depends on the cause and severity of symptoms according to the classification of New York Heart Association. The more severe the symptoms, the lower the pumping ability of the heart, the shorter the life expectancy too. But with increasingly advanced medical technology are expected survival of heart failure patients is increasing. Advances in technology treatment of heart failure for example: the installation of ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator), CRT (cardiac resynchronization therapy), LVAD (Left ventricle Assist Device), Parachute therapy and heart transplantation. These techniques will be discussed in subsequent articles.
In addition to medication, you should also change your lifestyle. The food was too salty and fatty foods should be avoided. Weight loss should be lowered. Likewise, the level of stress. Sport must still be done, of course, in accordance with the doctor's instructions, according to the severity of your heart condition.
If you suffer from heart failure, you and your family need to understand that this disease is a serious illness, therefore it is very necessary family support. The life expectancy of a patient with heart failure also depends on the cause and severity of symptoms according to the classification of New York Heart Association. The more severe the symptoms, the lower the pumping ability of the heart, the shorter the life expectancy too. But with increasingly advanced medical technology are expected survival of heart failure patients is increasing. Advances in technology treatment of heart failure for example: the installation of ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator), CRT (cardiac resynchronization therapy), LVAD (Left ventricle Assist Device), Parachute therapy and heart transplantation. These techniques will be discussed in subsequent articles.
