The human heart is a remarkable piece of equipment. In the course of a normal lifetime, the heart beats an estimated three billion times. When there is a breakdown in the heart's ability to pump blood, it is almost always the result of disease, rather than a true mechanical failure. When the heart's pumping action grows weaker and blood no longer circulates in an adequate flow to the body's major systems, it is extremely important to find the cause of the condition that is called Congestive Heart Failure.
There are almost 5 million people in the U.S. who suffer from congestive heart failure (CHF). The annual health care costs associated with CHF is more than 3 billion dollars to pay for about 750,000 hospital admissions involving nearly 6 million hospitalization days. Careful evaluation is required to find the underlying cause of congestive heart failure.
Causes may include:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure. The extra burden to the heart of pumping blood through inelastic blood vessels can overtax the heart to the point that it begins to fail.
- A blockage in a coronary artery can weaken the strength of the heart muscle’s contraction and produce heart failure.
- Damage to a heart valve caused by rheumatic fever or a bacterial infection may lead to heart failure.
- Severe anemia, vitamin B1 deficiency, a hyperactive thyroid condition and chronic infection with recurrent fever can be the source for CHF.
Symptoms usually appear gradually, and may seem to have little to do with heart disease. The most common symptoms are:
Shortness of Breath
Often the earliest warning signal of heart failure
Rapid Heartbeat (Tachycardia)
Caused by the heart's attempt to compensate for its inability to pump the normal amount of blood to the body.Swelling (Edema)
Kidneys are unable to effectively filter excess fluid out of the blood. Water begins backing up in the lungs, liver, and tissues of other organs. An unexplained weight gain of over 5 lb. Typically appears in the ankles.
Nocturnal (Nighttime) Breathlessness
Occurs in the later stages of heart failure. The person may awake coughing and experiencing a "choking" feeling.
Prompt diagnosis and proper care will minimize the symptoms of congestive heart failure. Diagnostic procedures may include a chest X-ray, EKG, Echocardiogram, and Blood tests. Congestion and fluid retention can often be controlled with diuretics and by limiting sodium (salt) intake. A medication called Digitalis (Lanoxin) may be prescribed to strengthen the heart and improve its pumping ability.
A new treatment regimen using an IV medication called Primacor was started at Red Oak Cardiovascular Center in October, 1997. The medication contains a combination of an ACE-inhibitor that expands blood vessels, a diuretic to help eliminate excess water, and an Inotropic agent that strengthens the pumping action of the heart. We are very encouraged by the dramatic improvement patients are experiencing to date. While not a cure for congestive heart failure, this treatment has decreased the number of hospitalizations and increased the patient's activities, allowing for a more independent quality of life. For more information about congestive heart failure or the Primacor treatment, E-mail us at redoak@infohwy.com.
This article is provided as a public service and is not designed to replace a visit with your physician.