A Quick Guide to Congestive Heart Disease and Failure

Congestive heart disease and failure happens when your heart lose its ability to pump sufficient blood to other organs in your body. In this case, the heart works a lot less efficient and creates more problems. The most common causes of congestive heart disease and failure are narrowed arteries, high blood pressure, excessive consumption of alcohol, and viral infection of the heart. Another cause of congestive heart disease and failure is heart valve disease due to rheumatic fever.

There are several known symptoms of congestive heart disease and failure. You need to consult with your doctor immediately when you experience one of the following: shortness of breath, gaining more than five pounds in one week or failure to reduce weight through strict diet, swelling especially in leg area that is new to you, chest pain, coughing or wheezing in the night, and needing to sleep propped up or sitting up.

Test to identify congestive heart disease and failure should be conducted if a patient has a history of heart disease, is alcoholic, has heart problems history in the family, or showing any of the symptoms mentioned above. When the disease does exist, proper treatment needs to be done urgently, such as changing in dietary habits, exercise, avoiding consumption of salt, and reducing fluid intake. Professional advices are necessary for further treatment.

Treating congestive heart disease and failure

The treatment of congestive heart disease and failure can be separated into non-pharmacological and pharmacological measure. Non-pharmacological measure involves proper physical activities depending on the severity of the symptoms, weight reduction or weight monitoring, avoiding consumption of salt, and fluid restriction.

Pharmacological measures involves the used of drugs and medications. Angiotensin is common to convert enzyme inhibitors. Vasodilator is a good alternative when Angiotensin shows ineffectiveness because it expands the blood vessels and prevent blockage. Beta blocker is another measure which purpose is to improve the heart's ventricle pumps. Diuretic therapy is necessary in helping the kidneys to remove salt and water surplus while digitalis can increase the heart pumping. Surgery is also necessary for some congestive heart disease condition.

Congestive heart disease and failure can be caused by various factors and therefore, the treatments are varied as mentioned above. For some people, lots of rest is recommended while others need a heart transplant. Some can lead a pretty normal life with only minimum medications. Years back, congestive heart disease and failure can cause people to become invalids. Fortunately, present technology and knowledge result to considerably normal lives.

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