Do you know what congestive heart failure is?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood. This is mainly to fulfill the tissues' need for oxygen and nutrients.  

However, heart failure does not mean that the heart stops working. Rather, it works less efficiently than usual. Due to a variety of possible causes, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower pace, and the pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. 

 

What is congestive heart failure (CHF)?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood to the body's organs and other tissues. When one or two parts of the heart are not pumping blood out, blood builds up in the heart or clogs in organs or tissues. As a result, blood builds up in the circulatory system. If the left side of the heart fails to function properly, the right side of the heart system will be congested due to the accumulated blood. Inside, the heart is clogged due to excessive contractions to push blood and can cause heart failure. Likewise, if the right heart fails, the left heart will be compromised and can also cause heart failure.

 

How common is congestive heart failure (CHF)?

CHF is a condition that can occur at any age, even children, especially children with congenital heart defects. However, congestive heart failure is more common in older people, as they are more at risk of developing causes of heart muscle and heart valve damage. Changes in the heart with age also make the contractions of the heart less effective. CHF is a condition that can increase a person's risk of developing heart disease.

 

Signs & Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF)?

Heart failure is a chronic disease that occurs suddenly. Typical symptoms in people with congestive heart failure or CHF are easily out of breath during activity, shortness of breath when sleeping on their back so that they need several pillows to prop up their head so that they can breathe freely again. Those with CHF are the ones who often wake up at night due to shortness of breath and sometimes accompanied by swelling of the ankles.

Other effects of CHF include loss of appetite, nausea, frequent nighttime urination, but weight gain due to harmful fluid build-up and swollen internal organs. When the left heart fails, blood flow to the lungs will become stagnant. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath (especially at night when lying down), and coughing. Meanwhile, when the right heart fails, blood stagnates in the tissues. As a result, the liver becomes swollen and can cause abdominal pain. Your feet and soles can also become swollen due to the right heart not functioning properly. There may be other symptoms and signs not mentioned. Consult your doctor if you suspect other symptoms that may be related to this disease.

 

When should I see a doctor?

Consult a doctor immediately if you notice one or more of the symptoms of congestive heart failure mentioned above in yourself. The earliest symptoms of congestive heart failure or CHF are usually chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and fainting.

Contact your doctor again if after treatment, your symptoms worsen or have the opposite effect.

 

Causes

What causes congestive heart failure (CHF)?

The most common cause of CHF is coronary heart disease. Other causes of CHF are heart muscle strain, high blood pressure, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease, infection, cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), lung disease, anemia, tiraoid and too much body fluid.

 

Risk factors

What increases my risk of developing congestive heart failure (CHF)?

There are many factors that can cause a person to develop heart failure. One factor alone can cause heart failure, but if many elements combine, the risk of heart failure is higher.

 

Factors that increase the risk of congestive heart failure aka CHF are:

Injury to the heart muscle during a heart attack. This will cause the strength of your heart to contract to be reduced and not like normal.

Having a history of diabetes This disease can increase the risk of hypertension and coronary artery disease.
Certain diabetes medications that control sugar levels can actually increase the risk of heart failure for some people. Even so, you should not stop any medication. If you are taking these medications, consult your doctor.
Sleep apnea. This condition can cause less oxygen in the blood and increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. Both can be causes of congestive heart failure.
Have a history of heart valve disease. This condition causes the heart to be unable to pump blood properly, resulting in a higher risk of congestive heart failure.
Exposure to certain viral infections. Viral infections can cause heart muscle damage that triggers CHF.
Having a history of hypertension, aka high blood pressure.
Being overweight or obese.
Have a history of heartbeat disorders. An abnormal heartbeat, especially when beating fast, can weaken the heart muscle and lead to CHF.
Consuming too much alcohol.
Smoking.

 

Medication & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

 

What are the treatment options for congestive heart failure (CHF)?

For congestive heart failure, you need to treat the root cause of the disease. For example, if the cause of CHF is a heart problem, then you should have valve replacement surgery or heart valve repair.

Some medications can be used to reduce the amount of fluid in the body or help the heart contract better. Diuretic medications help reduce the amount of fluid production in the body.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can also help the heart contract. Beta-blocker drugs reduce the heart rate. Some other medications can help lower blood pressure.

It is important to understand that all medications have side effects, including dehydration, coughing, dizziness, fainting, and fatigue. Consult your doctor regarding which medication is most suitable for you. If any side effects bother you, see your doctor immediately.