In most patients, CHF has a chronic course but can be reversed in some cases. Even when it remains chronic (ongoing), treatments can be administered to treat symptoms and to improve quality of life for CHF patients. In some cases, fluid may build in a patient's lungs and/or their heart may become enlarged but there are teatments to relieve symptoms caused by complications of CHF.
Symptoms of CHF
The symptoms can vary among individuals, but the ones that are typically experienced may include the following:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing and coughing
- edema in the ankles and/or abdomen (swelling)
- fatigue
- heart enlargement
- exercise intolerance
- failure in other organs of the body (i.e. kidneys, liver and brain)
These symptoms occur due to a weakening of the heart muscle over time, which causes inadequate supply of blood circulation to the muscles and organs of the body. A resulting effect of diminished heart function out-put, includes a build-up of fluid around the heart and in the lungs, which also contributes to symptoms.
Causes of CHF
Conditions that cause heart arrhythmias and damage to the heart muscle can result in the development of CHF over time. If a person has a heart murmur or birth defect in the heart, for example, this can cause the condition to develop as they age and especially when they reach their senior-age years.
Heart attacks can also contribute to the development of CHF due to the resulting damage in the heart muscle that causes less-adequate heart function as a person ages. As the heart muscle struggles to supply proper blood circulation output while it is in a damaged or inadequately functioning state, it will often become enlarged. This is its attempt to allow more blood-flow through the heart valves but is a serious development that can require emergency care.
Lifestyle Treatments for CHF
If the condition is mild to moderate and not causing significant symptoms, a treating doctor might simply prescribe lifestyle changes and intermittent short-term use of a diuretic medication (for fluid retention). These changes in lifestyle might include the following:
- losing excess weight in the body
- regular exercise at proper tolerance level
- a healthy diet
- reduced fluid intake
- removing sodium from the diet (salt – which results in fluid retention)
This type of regimen would be monitored closely by regular follow ups with the patient, to see if the treatment is working or if prescription medications need to be added.
Prescription and Surgical Treatments
Prescribed medications for more severe cases might include beta-blocker drugs to control hypertension, cardiac glycosides to increase cardiac output and ACE Inhibitors to prevent renin released by the kidneys from converting into angiotensin II (a hormone that causes heart constriction).
Should CHF worsen despite prescribed treatments, these worst-case scenarios might require corrective surgery for damaged or malfunctioning heart valves or for stints to be implanted to open constricted arteries. Rarely, a patient will be recommended for heart transplant if they are determined to be an approved candidate for one, meaning they are otherwise healthy, so that their body will not reject the replaced organ.
In many cases, the prognosis for CHF can be good with proper treatment and with close monitoring of treated patients by a qualified MD or cardiologist.
Sources:
American Heart Association
Jim Lowrance - James M. (Jim) Lowrance has authored over 100 book and ebook publications since year 2004.
