Conditions like coronary artery disease or high blood pressure make the heart weak as a result the heart cannot pump adequate amount of blood as required by the body for various activities.
Some of the common causes for heart failure are ischemic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease and chronic hypertension.
Infrequent causes for heart failure includes amyloidosis, cardiomyopathy due to HIV infection, viral myocarditis, arrhythmias, severe anemia, emphysema, hemochromatosis, lupus, certain medications and alcohol abuse.
Coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, diabetes and obesity are the risk factors for heart failure.
Normally the symptoms of heart failure start gradually and it is a chronic, long term condition. But the symptoms may develop suddenly. So depending upon the occurrence of symptoms there may be acute heart failure or chronic heart failure.
The symptoms of chronic heart failure are rapid and irregular heart beats, breathlessness on lying down or exertion, fatigue, weakness, reduced ability to exercise, leg edema, constant cough, wheezing, phlegm production tinged with pink blood, inability to concentrate, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal swelling and sudden weight gain (due to fluid accumulation).
The symptoms of acute heart failure are similar to that of chronic heart failure but they take place suddenly, worsen fast and are more severe.
Heart failure is diagnosed based on medical history, physical examination and some tests. The tests are blood test (to check for the chemical markers of heart failure, liver function test, thyroid function test, renal function test, electrolyte level, complete blood count and c-reactive protein), X-ray of chest, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and ejection fraction. Other tests are stress test, cardiac CT, Magnetic resonance imaging and angiogram (coronary catheterization).
Treatment for heart failure is basically controlling the risk factors. It can be changing life style, less salt intake, regular physical exercise (if recommended), stress management, depression treatment and loosing surplus weight.
Medications for heart failure are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blockers, digoxin, beta blockers, diuretics and aldosterone antagonists. Other medications are blood thinning drugs, drugs to lower cholesterol levels and drugs for chest pain.
Heart failure can also be treated by surgery by using implants. The implants used in heart failure surgery are Biventricular Pacemaker (also known as Cardiav Resynchronization Therapy), Combination of Biventricular Pacemaker and Defibrillators (CRT-ICD) and Heart Pumps.
Heart transplant is also an option in extreme cases and it improves quality of life and longer survival.
Complications of heart failure are enlargement of ventricles, dilation of heart (eventually becoming inefficient), thickening of heart muscles, faster heart beats and increase in heart stimulating hormones.
