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Heart failure develops when
the heart becomes weak and does not function properly.
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Heart failure is not a specific
disease. It is a condition, or syndrome, that can
be brought on by a variety of underlying diseases or health
problems. |
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Common causes of heart failure
are damage from a prior heart attack (myocardial infarction),
coronary artery disease (clogged blood vessels), high
blood pressure, diseases of the heart muscle or valves
and diabetes. Sometimes, there is no known cause. |
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People with heart failure
may have no symptoms until it reaches a serious stage.
Typical signs are breathlessness, fatigue and fluid build-up
that causes swelling, especially in the feet, ankles or
legs. Fluid build-up also may cause rapid weight gain. |
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Regular physical exams are
important to detect heart failure before it becomes
serious, or prevent it from getting worse over time. |
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As the heart loses strength,
not enough blood is pumped into the heart's upper chambers
(atria) and out of its lower chambers (ventricles).
Fluid from the blood can back up and cause "congestion"
in body tissues. This is why heart failure sometimes is
called "congestive." |
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There are two types of
heart failure called "systolic" and "diastolic." Systolic
failure occurs when the heart is weak and enlarged. It
may not have the muscle power to pump enough blood to
meet the body's needs. Diastolic failure is when the heart
muscle becomes stiff and loses some of its ability to
relax. |
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About 5 million Americans
have heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed
each year. It causes nearly one million hospitalizations
annually, and is the most common reason that people age
65 and older are admitted to a hospital. |
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Heart failure can be diagnosed
by physical examination, medical history, blood tests
and heart tests. |
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Treatments for heart failure
depends on the cause, type and severity of the condition.
There are many new treatments to control heart failure
or improve the heart's function. These may include treatments
for underlying conditions that contribute to heart failure,
lifestyle changes, medications, implanted cardiac devices,
resynchronization therapy, or surgery. |
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Some patients with heart
failure are at high-risk for sudden cardiac arrest
and should be evaluated by a cardiologist who is a specialist
in heart rhythm problems. These specialists, called electrophysiologists,
can do tests to determine if a patient is at risk for
a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. These disorders
can be treated with an implanted device that protects
people from sudden cardiac arrest, a defibrillator. |
