Medical Questions > Heart failure : causes, danger and suggested solution
Ruzaida:
The most important thing to know about heart failure is that this is not a disease but a serious condition that has no cure, but you can live a full and enjoyable life with the right treatment and active attention to your lifestyle. The term "heart failure" makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all and there's nothing that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart is not pumping as well as it should be. Your body depends on the heart's pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body's cells. When the cells are nourished properly, the body can function normally. With heart failure, the weakened heart can't supply the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can become very difficult. Heart failure can also cause blood and fluid to back up throughout your circulatory system — your lungs, legs, feet and ankles — and your kidneys retain excess water and sodium. This build-up of fluid is the congestive part of heart failure. The lung congestion occurs only with left-sided heart failure with fluid backing up into the lungs.
You ask about causes of heart failure. Heart failure has many different causes. Sometimes the exact cause can't be found. The most common causes of heart failure are: Coronary artery disease (narrowing of the blood vessels to the heart)--often people with heart failure have had a heart attack in the past. - High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) - Problems with the heart muscle itself (known as cardiomyopathy) - Problems with any of the heart valves - Abnormal heart rhythms (also called arrhythmias) -Toxic substances (such as alcohol abuse) - Congenital heart disease (a heart problem you were born with) - Diabetes - Thyroid problems.
All of the behaviors that you probably associate as risk factors for heart disease or heart attack — such as smoking, being overweight or eating foods high in animal fat and cholesterol and leading a sedentary life style ( no exercise ) and high stress levels — may cause or contribute to heart failure. Sometimes, your heart becomes weakened without explanation, a condition known as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Heart failure can develop quickly after damage caused by a heart attack, or it can develop gradually after years of high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. Only if the cause is faulty valves and they are replaced will the condition markedly improve.
The patient experiences breathlessness, even when lying flat, and there is oedema of the legs. Treatment consists of rest, sleeping propped up with pillows, a low salt diet and diuretic drugs to remove the fluid from the body via the kidneys.
Regarding Heart Failure Statistics: "Heart failure is a public health problem worldwide. Here in Malaysia, it accounts for 9% of all hospital medical admissions. Statistics from the United States in 1991 established that heart failure was the primary diagnosis in approximately 790,000 hospitalizations". See last two links below.
If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, there are many things that you can do to help yourself. These activities include: Limiting your intake of salt is very important and you should learn what prepared foods have large amounts of salt.- It is important for you to weigh yourself each day and contact your healthcare provider if your weight changes significantly.- Exercising at levels recommended by your physician is of great importance in keeping you as fit and well as possible.- Taking your prescribed medications is also beneficial. - It is important for you to maintain frequent visits to your physician and notify him or her if there are any changes in your symptoms.- It is essential that both you and your family understand what heart failure is, what the symptoms are, what you should do if your symptoms change and how your doctor treats this disease.
Home caregivers can support their loved ones by following a few basic steps. Many of these require you to talk to your loved one and to work out a plan. Whenever possible, write down your plan and keep it where both of you - and any back-up caregivers - can locate it. See the 3rd link below "Home Care for Heart failure for the 5 Key Steps." These other links below may also be of further assistance to you.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000158.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061/DSECTION=3
http://www.mywhatever.com/cifwriter/library/chfcopd/steps.html
http://www.heart1.com/hero/hero.cfm/6/1
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14680339&dopt=Abstract
The most important thing to know about heart failure is that this is not a disease but a serious condition that has no cure, but you can live a full and enjoyable life with the right treatment and active attention to your lifestyle. The term "heart failure" makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all and there's nothing that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart is not pumping as well as it should be. Your body depends on the heart's pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body's cells. When the cells are nourished properly, the body can function normally. With heart failure, the weakened heart can't supply the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can become very difficult. Heart failure can also cause blood and fluid to back up throughout your circulatory system — your lungs, legs, feet and ankles — and your kidneys retain excess water and sodium. This build-up of fluid is the congestive part of heart failure. The lung congestion occurs only with left-sided heart failure with fluid backing up into the lungs.
You ask about causes of heart failure. Heart failure has many different causes. Sometimes the exact cause can't be found. The most common causes of heart failure are: Coronary artery disease (narrowing of the blood vessels to the heart)--often people with heart failure have had a heart attack in the past. - High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) - Problems with the heart muscle itself (known as cardiomyopathy) - Problems with any of the heart valves - Abnormal heart rhythms (also called arrhythmias) -Toxic substances (such as alcohol abuse) - Congenital heart disease (a heart problem you were born with) - Diabetes - Thyroid problems.
All of the behaviors that you probably associate as risk factors for heart disease or heart attack — such as smoking, being overweight or eating foods high in animal fat and cholesterol and leading a sedentary life style ( no exercise ) and high stress levels — may cause or contribute to heart failure. Sometimes, your heart becomes weakened without explanation, a condition known as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Heart failure can develop quickly after damage caused by a heart attack, or it can develop gradually after years of high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. Only if the cause is faulty valves and they are replaced will the condition markedly improve.
The patient experiences breathlessness, even when lying flat, and there is oedema of the legs. Treatment consists of rest, sleeping propped up with pillows, a low salt diet and diuretic drugs to remove the fluid from the body via the kidneys.
Regarding Heart Failure Statistics: "Heart failure is a public health problem worldwide. Here in Malaysia, it accounts for 9% of all hospital medical admissions. Statistics from the United States in 1991 established that heart failure was the primary diagnosis in approximately 790,000 hospitalizations". See last two links below.
If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, there are many things that you can do to help yourself. These activities include: Limiting your intake of salt is very important and you should learn what prepared foods have large amounts of salt.- It is important for you to weigh yourself each day and contact your healthcare provider if your weight changes significantly.- Exercising at levels recommended by your physician is of great importance in keeping you as fit and well as possible.- Taking your prescribed medications is also beneficial. - It is important for you to maintain frequent visits to your physician and notify him or her if there are any changes in your symptoms.- It is essential that both you and your family understand what heart failure is, what the symptoms are, what you should do if your symptoms change and how your doctor treats this disease.
Home caregivers can support their loved ones by following a few basic steps. Many of these require you to talk to your loved one and to work out a plan. Whenever possible, write down your plan and keep it where both of you - and any back-up caregivers - can locate it. See the 3rd link below "Home Care for Heart failure for the 5 Key Steps." These other links below may also be of further assistance to you.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000158.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061/DSECTION=3
http://www.mywhatever.com/cifwriter/library/chfcopd/steps.html
http://www.heart1.com/hero/hero.cfm/6/1
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14680339&dopt=Abstract
October 3, 2006 |
Heather, RN
Heather, RN
Excellent response to the inquiry. Even though there is no known cure for heart failue today, much has been learned about the condition and how it progresses. There is hope. The progression of the illness can be slowed. The quality of life experienced can be improved - along with the quantity.
Some hospitals are banding together as a colloquium to improve their care for people with heart failure across the entire continuum of care. They are doing so be becoming Accredited Heart Failure Institutes through the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium.
March 23, 2009 |
Tony Joseph, MD
Tony Joseph, MD
What is the cause of heart failure.
Why it is danger and suggested solution for heart failure.