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What Is Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure is a illness in which the heart’s function as a pump to carry oxygen filled blood to the body is unsubstantial to meet the body’s needs. Congestive heart failure can be caused by:

1.Diseases that break down the muscles of the heart.

2.Sickness that build up oxygen demand by the body tissue beyond the amount the heart can transport.

3.Diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscles.

The heart has two atria (right atrium and left atrium) that form the upper chambers of the heart, and two ventricles (left ventricle and right ventricle) that make up the lower chambers of the heart. The ventricles are buff chambers that pump blood when the muscles contract; this contraction of the ventricle muscles is referred to as systole.

Many diseases can impair the pumping action of the ventricles; heart attacks or infections (myocarditis) are the two main examples of how the ventricle muscles can be weakened. The slowed pumping ability of the ventricles due to muscle weakening is called systolic dysfunction. Following each systole the ventricle muscles need to rest to allow blood from the atria to fill the ventricles. This resting state is called diastole.

In some patients, one or more of these factors may be present to lead to congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure can affect many organs in the body. For example, the weakened heart muscles may not be able to supply enough blood to the kidneys, which will then begin to lose their normal ability excrete salt (sodium) and water. This weakened kidney function can cause the body to keep more fluid. This may cause the lungs to become crowded with fluid (pulmonary edema) and the person’s ability to exercise is slowed. Fluid may likewise rest in the liver, thereby impairing its ability to rid the body of toxins and produce essential proteins. The intestines may also become less adequate in absorbing nutrients and medicines. Over time, untreated, worsening congestive heart failure will affect every organ in the body.

What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?

The symptoms of congestive heart failure change among individuals according to the particular organ systems involved and depending on the degree to which the rest of the body has compensated for the heart muscle weakness.

Fatigue is an early symptom of congestive heart failure. While tiredness is a sensitive indicator of possible underlying congestive heart failure, it is obviously a nonspecific symptom that may be triggered by many other conditions. The persons exercising ability may also slow down. Patients may not notice this reduction and they may subconsciously reduce their activities to accommodate this limitation.

As fluid overloads the body from congestive heart failure, swelling (edema) of the ankles and legs or abdomen may be noticed.

Fluid may collect in the lungs, thereby causing shortness of breath, especially during exercise and when lying flat. There are even cases in which patients are awakened at night gasping for air.

Some may be unable to rest unless sitting upright.

The extra fluid in the body may cause frequent urination, especially at night.

Accumulation of fluid in the liver and intestines may cause nausea, abdominal pain and decreased appetite.