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Congestive heart failure, also known as cardiac failure, is a serious condition in which the heart fails to pump blood adequately. We are all aware of the basic functioning of the heart which is to pump blood and oxygen to various parts of the body. This functioning may get hampered at times due to certain heart issues. One such heart issue that we are going to discuss is congestive heart failure.
GS Hospital Pilkhuwa, one of the top heart care hospitals in UP, takes the initiative to bring about awareness for a healthy heart. Awareness of heart health is a must to prevent any kind of cardiac issues and maintain healthy heart function. In this context, we shall discuss the causes, symptoms, and stages of congestive cardiac failure and how to prevent it.
Early detection is key to better recovery for heart health. Knowing about the stages of congestive cardiac failure will help restore heart functioning with a strategic plan and medication management. Let's begin with the basics of congestive heart failure.
As the name suggests, congestive cardiac failure is a heart condition in which the heart fails to pump sufficient blood and oxygen to other systems of the body. The word “heart failure” can be quite stressful. However, this does not mean that the heart completely fails to perform its functioning of heartbeats.
In congestive cardiac failure, the heart becomes less contractible due to its limitation and ability to fill with blood. This may cause congestion or chest pain due to a lack of oxygen and blood supply. If neglected, it may cause multisystem organ failure.
The causes of congestive heart failure are as follows:
The symptoms of congestive heart failure are as follows:
There are 4 different stages of congestive cardiac failure which include the following:
Stage A: Patients with stage A heart failure may have no major dysfunction of pumping activity of the heart such as coronary artery disease, valvular problems, or blockage of the heart. They may have symptoms such as mild shortness of breath, and swelling of extremities. These patients generally have a strong past medical history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity. There are no major structural and functional changes in the heart at this stage. The symptoms can be corrected with lifestyle changes and medications.
Stage B: Patients with stage B congestive heart failure may develop structural heart disease which reduces the overall functioning of the heart usually within less than 6 months. These patients often complain of enlarged left ventricles. They may have symptoms such as shortness of breath, and swelling of extremities. The diagnostic test mainly reveals structural changes with positive stress tests. Healthy lifestyle modifications such as exercising to lose weight may help in improving the functioning of the heart with medications. These patients may have a strong genetic history of heart failure.
Stage C: Patients at this stage will show symptoms of heart failure with underlying structural heart disease. The symptoms mainly occur due to contraction of the left ventricle while pumping blood. The patient may have breathlessness, fatigue, and tiredness with dyspnea on exertion. These patients are under current treatment for heart failure and may show no symptoms while being under the medications. They are given treatment to prevent heart failure exacerbation.
Stage D: Stage D heart failure is considered the last stage of heart failure. In these patients, there will be advanced structural and functional cases causing symptoms to occur at rest as well. The patients under this stage may require advanced treatment such as circulatory support, surgery, or medications as directed by the physician.
The stages and symptoms of heart failure may range from mild to severe. It may worsen over time if not medically managed. Practicing a healthy lifestyle can help in delaying the progression of the heart issue preventing further damage.
There are two types of heart failure which include:
Left-sided heart failure is considered a common type of heart failure. The left ventricle is an important chamber that allows the pumping of the heart. This allows blood supply to all parts of the body by maintaining adequate blood volume.
In case of systolic heart failure, the left ventricle capacity to contract deteriorates causing pumping failure. This reduces the capacity of blood and oxygen supply to other parts of the body.
On the other hand, in the case of diastolic heart failure, there is stiffening of the left ventricle which causes the inability of the muscle to relax.
The main symptoms of left-sided heart failure are weight gain, shortness of breath at rest as well as exertion, inability to lie flat on bed at night, awakening at night due to shortness of breath, and left-sided chest pain.
Right-sided heart failure is quite less common. This occurs because of the lack of pumping of blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. The backflow of the blood into the blood vessels may cause fluid retention and edema of the lower legs and arms. The main symptoms of right-sided heart failure are breathlessness of exertion, wheezing, lightheadedness, dizziness, coughing, edema of the legs, and difficulty concentrating.
Both forms of heart failure may get progressive with time if left untreated. If you are resonating with any of the above-mentioned signs and symptoms, it is recommended to consult your doctor right away.
The main standard treatment for congestive cardiac failure is to control signs and symptoms and prevent further damage to the heart. The line of treatment for congestive cardiac failure includes a comprehensive treatment plan with the following:
The best lifestyle changes for congestive heart failure are as follows: