What is heart failure? The denom...

What is heart failure?

The denomination "heart failure" simply means that your heart is not pumping house as well as it should. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped working or that you are having a heart attack.

Heart failure is also called congestive heart failure, or CHF "Congestive" means fluid is building up in your dead body because your heart is not pumping the right way.

What causes heart failure?

Heart failure has many different causes. Sometimes the cause cannot be establish The most common causes are listed below:

* Coronary artery disease (narrowing of the relations vessels to the heart)--often persons with heart failure have had a heart attack in the past

* puzzles with the heart muscle (this is called cardiomyopathy)

* High descendants pressure (also known as hypertension)

* vexed questions with any of the heart valves

* Abnormal heart regular [i]or[/i] melodious movements (also called arrhythmias)

* Toxic substances (such as alcohol abuse)

* Congenital heart disease (a heart question you were born with)

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

a certain people with heart failure have scarcely any problems or symptoms. The following is a list of riddles that people with heart failure might have:

* Shortness of breath (perhaps when walking, climbing stairs, or when lying flat in bed)

* Waking up during the night, unexpectedly breathless

* General tiredness or weakness

* Swelling of the leg (usually just the feet or ankles)

* Rapid weight gain (one or sum of two units pounds a day for three days in a row)

* Chronic cough

Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, especially if you have had a heart vexed question before.

What criterions will I need?

Your doctor might suspect heart failure based in succession your medical history, symptoms, and a physical exam. He or she might also order other proofs such as a blood standard urine test, chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram (also called EKG or ECG) an echocardiogram, or an angiogram.

The last sum of two units tests often are used to make never-failing of the diagnosis. An echocardiogram is a standard that causes no pain. A probe is mov across the surface of your chest. It send forths out sound waves that give your doctor pictures of your heart. The pictures present to view your doctor how well your heart is pumping.

An angiogram involves injecting a remarkably low dose of a radioactive substance into your kindred This substance travels to your heart and bring outs pictures that show your doctor by what mode well your heart is pumping. The radioactive substance is safe and leaves your material substance completely after the test is finished.

What treatment will I need?

plenteous can be done to improve the heart's pumping and to treat the symptoms, yet heart failure cannot be completely cur An important part of treatment is taking care of any underlying question s such as high blood press Treatment also includes lifestyle changes and medicine. If you have heart failure, here are more [i]or[/i] less important things you should talk about with your doctor:

* Diet. You may be told to diminish the amount of salt you eat. Other changes in diet may be advised, depending upon other health problems you have. Talk to your doctor before you use salt substitutes; they contain potassium and may not be fit for you.

* Alcohol. Drink les alcohol.

* Exercise. Your doctor will help you decide by what mode much exercise (and what kind) you can do.

* Medicines. Talk to your doctor before you take any medicine, because a certain number of can cause fluid retention.

* Support. Your family can be a big help to you, in the way that involve them if possible. Your doctor can give you information about support clusters It sometimes helps to talk with other the bulk of mankind who have the same health problem

What medicines will I ne to take?

Several kinds of medicines are commonly used to treat heart failure:

* ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors help exhibit (dilate) your arteries and lower your house pressure, improving blood flow.

* Diuretics. Diuretics sometimes are called water pills because they make you urinate more frequently and help keep fluid from building up in your carcass They also can decrease fluid that accumulates in your lungs, which helps you breathe easier.

* Beta blocker Beta blocker can improve relations flow and may help hinder some heart rhythm problems.

* Digoxin. Digoxin (also called digitalis) helps the heart cross-examine better. It may be combined with other medicines.

You might ne to take more than undivided medicine, or other medicines if you have other question s or if you have side validitys with any of these medicines. It may take a while to find the best medicine for you and the best amount of it.

You will ne to have kindred tests to check your potassium even and kidney function.

in what way often you need these descendants tests depends on the kind of medicine you are taking and its potency If you think you may be having side powers you should talk to your doctor. It is important that you take your medicine exactly as your doctor says.

by what means often will I need to behold my doctor?

You may ne to descry your doctor every week to check your reaction to the medicine. After you are feeling better, you might advance less often.