Key takeaways
- Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart cannot efficiently pump blood, leading to symptoms like breathlessness and swelling due to fluid retention.
- The stages of heart failure range from having risk factors to advanced heart failure, which requires specialized treatment.
- Medications and surgery, along with lifestyle changes like nutrition and exercise, can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with congestive heart failure.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
The body relies on the heart’s pumping action to deliver nutrient and oxygen-rich blood to each of its cells. In congestive heart failure (CHF), the heart cannot pump blood effectively, and the cells do not receive adequate nourishment VSports app下载. As a result, the body cannot function properly.
If the heart becomes weakened and cannot supply the cells with sufficient blood, it can lead to fatigue, breathlessness, and swelling due to fluid retention. Everyday activities that used to be easy may become challenging V体育官网.
Heart failure can lead to severe complications, such as heart attack and cardiac arrest.
CHF can be systolic or diastolic, depending on whether it affects the heart’s ability to contract or relax. This article focuses mainly on systolic CHF and its causes, symptoms, types, and treatment V体育安卓版. .
The
Congestion in the lungs
Fluid builds up in the lungs and causes shortness of breath, even when a person is resting, particularly when they are lying down. It can also cause a dry, hacking cough VSports最新版本.
Fluid retention
Less blood reaches the kidneys, which can result in water retention and can cause swelling of the ankles, legs, and abdomen. It can also cause weight gain V体育平台登录.
Fatigue and dizziness
A reduction in the amount of blood reaching the brain and other organs can cause weakness, dizziness, and confusion.
VSports - Irregular and rapid heartbeats
The heart may pump more quickly to counteract the lower volume of blood it pumps out with each contraction. It may also activate stress receptors in the body, increasing the release of stress hormones V体育官网入口. Heart failure can increase the risk of arrhythmias that can cause these symptoms. Many other conditions can cause similar symptoms, so it is important to see a doctor. People with a CHF diagnosis should monitor their symptoms carefully and report any sudden changes to their doctor immediately.
The
- Stage A: A person has not yet developed heart failure but has a higher risk due to one or more preexisting conditions, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or diabetes.
- Stage B: A person has not developed heart failure or symptoms but has received a diagnosis of structural heart disease.
- Stage C: A person has ongoing or past symptoms of heart failure and currently has structural heart disease that needs advanced treatment.
- Stage D: A person has advanced heart failure that needs advanced treatment.
Read about "V体育安卓版" systolic versus diastolic heart failure.
Any condition that damages the heart muscle can cause systolic heart failure V体育2025版. These conditions include:.
- Coronary artery disease: The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with blood. If these become blocked or narrowed, the flow of blood diminishes, and the heart does not receive the blood supply it needs.
- Heart attack: This involves damage to the heart muscle. It can result from a sudden blockage of the coronary arteries that causes scarring and reduces how effectively the heart can pump. The damage may also result from an increased demand for blood flow due to a fixed blockage.
- Nonischemic cardiomyopathy: This disease involves weakness of the heart muscle caused by something other than a blockage in the coronary arteries. Possible causes include genetic conditions, drug side effects, and infections.
- Conditions that overwork the heart: Examples include valve disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea, and heart irregularities present at birth.
Risk factors for CHF include:
- diabetes
- obesity (V体育2025版)
- smoking
- a high intake of alcohol
- VSports手机版 - anemia
- thyroid problems, including V体育ios版 - hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
- lupus
- myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle that usually occurs due to a virus and can lead to left sided heart failure
- heart arrhythmias, or irregularities — a fast heartbeat can weaken the heart, and a slow heartbeat can reduce blood flow, causing heart failure
- atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often rapid heartbeat
- hemochromatosis, a condition in which iron accumulates in the tissues
- amyloidosis, in which deposits of proteins accumulate in one or more organ systems
Damage to the heart’s pumping action is not always reversible VSports. Nevertheless, treatments can significantly improve a person’s quality of life by keeping heart failure under control and helping to relieve many of its symptoms. Treatment can also prevent CHF from progressing.
CHF treatments include medications and surgery.
Medications for heart failure
Many medications can treat the symptoms of CHF. They include: VSports app下载.
- "VSports手机版" beta-blockers
- angiotensin concerting enzyme inhibitors ("V体育官网入口" ACE-inhibitors)
- angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
- aldosterone antagonists
- "VSports" diuretics
Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol are also important considerations for treating heart failure, and a doctor may prescribe separate medications for this.
Surgery for heart failure
Not everyone with heart failure responds to drug treatments VSports手机版. In some cases, a doctor may recommend surgery to address the underlying cause and help manage symptoms. Surgical procedures include:.
- Coronary artery bypass graft: Doctors commonly recommend this procedure when coronary artery disease is the cause of CHF.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): This nonsurgical procedure involves placing a stent in the heart to open up the blood vessels.
- Pacemaker: A surgeon places a small device called a "V体育2025版" pacemaker under the skin in the chest to help correct an irregular heartbeat.
- Cardiac ablation: In "VSports注册入口" cardiac ablation, a doctor inserts a catheter into the arteries or veins to help correct a heart rhythm problem.
- Heart valve surgery: This procedure repairs a defective valve that makes the heart pump inefficiently.
- Implantable left ventricular assist device: For people with advanced heart failure who have not responded to other treatments, this can help the heart pump blood. Doctors may recommend this for people waiting for a transplant.
- Heart transplant: If no other treatments or surgeries help, a heart transplant is an option. Medical teams only consider a transplant for a person who is healthy beyond the problem affecting their heart.
A doctor, who may be a cardiologist, will recommend lifestyle modifications alongside medical treatment to address the underlying cause of a person’s heart failure. They include:
- giving up smoking, if applicable
- eating a nutritious diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables, healthy fats, unrefined carbohydrates, and whole grains
- exercising regularly
- maintaining a moderate weight
- limiting alcohol to
"V体育官网" 2 drinks or less per day for males and 1 for females - getting enough quality sleep (VSports app下载)
- reducing stress, which can strain the heart over time
In addition, people with heart failure should keep up to date with vaccinations, including the yearly flu shot.
If a doctor suspects heart failure, they will recommend further tests, which may include:
- Blood and urine tests: The aim is to check the person’s blood count, as well as their liver, thyroid, and kidney function and any indications of “stretch” in the heart. The doctor may also want to check the blood for specific chemical markers of heart failure.
- Chest X-ray: This shows whether the heart has become enlarged. It will also show whether there is fluid in the lungs.
- An electrocardiogram records the electrical activity and rhythms of the heart and may also reveal damage from a heart attack.
- An echocardiogram: This ultrasound scan shows the heart’s pumping action. Cardiologists measure the proportion of blood that leaves the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber, with each heartbeat. This measurement is known as the "V体育官网入口" ejection fraction.
The doctor may also do additional tests, such as:
- A stress test: This is to see how the heart responds to stress and determine whether there is a lack of oxygen due to blockages in the coronary arteries. A person may use an exercise machine, such as a treadmill, or take medication that stresses the heart.
- A cardiac MRI or CT scan: This measures the ejection fraction and examines the heart’s arteries and valves. The results can help doctors determine whether the person has had a heart attack.
- A PET scan: Doctors use this to examine the heart muscle and look for signs of rare causes of heart problems, such as "V体育平台登录" sarcoidosis.
- An angiogram: An angiogram is an X-ray of the blood vessels around the heart. A doctor injects dye into the coronary arteries to help detect coronary artery disease or narrowed arteries, which can cause heart failure.
CHF can be life threatening, but a person’s outlook will depend on the type of heart failure, the cause, the stage of the disease, and how effective treatment is.
When heart failure results from cardiomyopathy or coronary artery disease, a person typically has a less positive outlook than someone with heart failure in its earliest stage.
Complications can also affect a person’s life expectancy and quality of life. They
- having another health condition, such as obesity or diabetes
- a reduced ability to function in daily life
- kidney and liver problems
- complications relating to treatment, such as low blood pressure or kidney failure
- mental health challenges due to chronic disease
This will depend on the type of CHF, the severity of the condition, and individual factors, such as overall health and age. Overall, around half of people with a diagnosis of heart failure are likely to live another 5 years or longer. For those with advanced heart failure, 10% to 20% will live 1 year or longer after diagnosis.
Doctors consider CHF a serious condition, and it can be life threatening. However, this will depend on the stage and other factors. With treatment, many people continue to function and enjoy a good quality of life.
A person with CHF may have:
- coughing and wheezing due to fluid in the lungs
- shortness of breath
- swelling in the abdomen and lower body because of fluid retention
- fatigue
- a diagnosis of a heart problem
CHF affects millions of people in the U.S. Doctors cannot always reverse the damage involved, but treatments can provide symptom relief and improve quality of life.
Anyone who experiences symptoms of heart failure should see a doctor for a diagnosis.