Heart failure or congestive heart failure is when the heart muscle becomes weak or damaged, affecting the ability of the heart to function correctly. About 6 million Americans have this condition, with more than 870,000 being diagnosed each year. This article attempts to shed light on the signs and symptoms experienced by patients and the common causes of the condition. It also highlights the treatment options that help manage congestive heart failure.

Symptoms

The symptoms of heart failure can come and go and range from mild to severe. Some of these are mentioned below:

Shortness of breath

Breathing issues can occur when one exerts themselves through physical activity or exercise. They might also have trouble breathing when they rest or lie in bed. This mainly occurs as the body does not get sufficient oxygen-rich blood or when fluid enters the lungs, causing congestion.

Fatigue and leg weakness

If one feels fatigued, it could be due to the organs and muscles not getting sufficient oxygen through the blood. The lower body, including the legs, might feel weak and tired.

Swelling in the abdomen, legs, and ankles

When the kidneys do not function properly or filter sufficient blood, fluid tends to build up, causing swelling. This is known as edema and can occur in the abdomen, legs, and ankles. It could also result in weight gain.

Irregular or rapid heartbeat

Rapid or irregular heartbeat, also known as palpitations, occurs when the heart muscle does not pump blood with sufficient force. This causes the heart to beat faster.

Dizziness and fainting

When the brain does not get enough oxygen, one can have difficulty concentrating or become confused. Dizziness and fainting are also symptoms of heart failure.

A dry cough

This symptom of heart failure usually occurs when one is lying flat on their back. It is due to the extra fluid that collects in the lungs, resulting in coughing.

Causes

Some of the causes of heart failure are mentioned below:

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary atherosclerosis, occurs when the lining inside the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart breaks down. The walls of arteries become thick. Fat and plaque could block the flow of blood. When the arteries become narrower over time, it could result in a heart attack.

Heart attack

When the coronary artery is blocked, blood cannot flow to the heart muscle properly. This could lead to heart muscle damage or the death of muscle cells.

Cardiomyopathy

Damage to the heart muscle that is not caused by coronary artery disease is known as cardiomyopathy. It could occur due to the abuse of alcohol and illicit substances, genetics, and certain viral infections.

Medications

Certain medications and treatment methods, such as chemotherapy used as a treatment option for cancer, can cause heart failure.

Health conditions

Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can, over time, lead to heart failure. High blood pressure or hypertension causes an increase in force with which the blood pushes against the walls of the arteries. This pressure could make the heart pump harder, causing the arteries to become narrow.

Congenital heart disease

Defects that affect the proper functioning of the heart that are present from birth could also result in heart failure.

Treatment methods

Heart failure is a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment. Some of the treatment options are mentioned below:

Medications

A doctor may prescribe one or more of the following medications to manage the condition.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

These are also known as ACE inhibitors. They cause the blood vessels to relax, thus lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow. This relieves the pressure and strain on the heart muscles.

Beta-blockers

These help to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, which in turn boosts heart function.

Diuretics

Diuretics, also known as water pills, increase the frequency of urination. This prevents fluid from accumulating in the body.

Surgical and other procedures

The patient’s doctor might suggest heart valve repair or replacement surgery to repair or replace faulty heart valves. A coronary bypass surgery could be recommended if the arteries are severely blocked. This procedure would create a new pathway to boost blood flow to the heart muscle. Devices such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and ventricular assist devices (VADs) could be implanted to help the heart function properly.

Heart transplant

The heart would need to be replaced with a healthy donor heart in case of severe heart failure that cannot be resolved through medications or surgery.

Following the treatment plan and the recommendations of the doctor should help one cope and manage their condition.