Same Day/Next Day Appointments Available for Heart Failure Patients
Heart Failure (HF) occurs when the heart muscle, whether from weakness or stiffening, does not pump with sufficient force to circulate the blood properly. As a result, blood backs up in other parts of the body, such as the liver, abdomen, lower legs, and lungs, because the heart is unable to keep pace with the body's circulatory needs. While HF can occur on either side of the body, it usually begins on the left, where the left ventricle, the primary pumping chamber of the heart, is located.
Types of Congestive Heart Failure
In systolic heart failure, there is a pumping problem: the left ventricle cannot contract strongly enough. Diastolic heart failure indicates that there is a filling problem because the left ventricle cannot fully relax.
HF can be either chronic or acute. Often fluid builds up in the lungs. Patients have shortness of breath and swelling in the abdomen, legs, or feet.
Causes of Heart Failure
An unhealthy lifestyle can contribute to Heart Failure, but congenital defects, coronary artery disease, diabetes or hypertension are also underlying causes.
Coronary Artery Disease
The most common cause of HF is coronary artery disease, in which there is a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. This accumulation of plaque is known as atherosclerosis.
Heart Attack
As a result of plaque buildup, the arteries rupture, a blood clot forms, blocking blood flow to an area of the heart. This may result in permanent damage that weakens the heart muscle.
Hypertension
When a patient has hypertension (high blood pressure), the heart is working harder than necessary to circulate the blood, causing the heart muscle to thicken. Over time, the heart muscle weakens to the point that it no longer pumps blood efficiently.
Faulty Heart Valves
Blood flow is directed by the heart valves. If a valve is damaged, the blood backs up, causing the heart to work harder than it usually does. Heart-valve damage may be the result of a congenital defect, a heart infection, or coronary artery disease.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle) can result from infection (such as myocarditis), alcohol or drug abuse, chemotherapy, or a disease process. In some cases, cardiomyopathy is caused by genetic factors.
Congenital Heart Defects
Infants may be born with a defective heart in which, because of anatomical abnormalities, the valves or chambers do not work properly, resulting in CHF.
Other causes of HF include heart arrhythmia, infections and diseases, allergic reactions, certain medications, and blood clots in the lungs.
Symptoms of Heart Failure
There are a number of symptoms of Heart Failure, including the following:
- Ascites (abdominal swelling)
- Edema (swelling) in the legs, ankles, and feet
- Fatigue and weakness
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Increased need to urinate during the night
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Production of pink-tinged phlegm
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath, especially upon exertion
When HF is caused by a heart attack, patients may also experience chest pain.
Diagnosis of Heart Failure
In order to diagnose HF, the following tests may be administered:
- Blood tests
- Chest X-rays
- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
- Echocardiogram
- Stress imaging/ Stress Echo
- CT or MRI scan
- Coronary angiogram
In some cases, a myocardial biopsy is performed.
Treatment of Heart Failure
HF must be treated; if not, it can lead to multi organ failure and death. Medication and surgery are both treatment options.
Medications
Medications used to treat HF include the following:
- Beta blockers
- Diuretics
- Digoxin (digitalis)
- Aldosterone antagonists
- Inotropes
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACI) or angiotensin II receptor blockers are also used to treat HF.
- ARNI - Entresto
Surgical Treatments
Surgical treatments are undertaken when medications do not resolve the problem. Several types of surgeries, including the following, can be performed to treat HF:
- Coronary bypass
- Heart-valve repair or replacement
- Implantation of cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
- Implantation of ventricular assistive device (VAD)
In the most severe cases of HF, implanting a total artificial heart (TAH) or having a heart transplant may be necessary.
Get The Help You Need Today
For more information or to contact our heart care clinics in East Texas, call The Heart Institute of East Texas, P.A. today at 936-632-8787 or click here to contact us online. Our practice has 10 convenient locations across East Texas.