Some congestive heart failure patients are candidates for a type of pacemaker called biventricular pacing therapy, which helps both sides of the heart work in concert, or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which shocks the heart into converting a potentially fatal fast rhythm to a normal one.
What is congestive heart failure and how is it treated?
Causes of congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is often the result of severe coronary artery disease, which decreases blood flow to the heart. Pulmonary hypertension — a buildup of pressure in the blood traveling from the heart to the lungs — can also cause CHF. Other causes of CHF often may include:
What is the best medication for heart failure?
Apr 30, 2017 · Your treatment plan may include: Lifestyle changes. Medications. Devices and surgical procedures. Ongoing care. Physical changes to report. Your healthcare team. Help for …
How can you avoid congestive heart failure?
May 01, 2022 · Fluid in the lungs can cause shortness of breath, a common symptom of congestive heart failure. If the heart is having serious difficulty with pumping, then you might …
What should I do if I have heart failure?
Jul 18, 2021 · Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2): These can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization. Statins: People use these to reduce …
How serious is a cardioversion?
How long does it take to recover from cardioversion?
What is the success rate of cardioversion?
Does cardioversion cure heart failure?
What happens if cardioversion fails?
Is cardioversion considered surgery?
What is the 48 hour rule for cardioversion?
How many times can cardioversion be done?
How long can you live with AFib and congestive heart failure?
Which is better cardioversion or ablation?
How do you feel after a cardioversion?
Stage A
Stage A is considered the first stage of CHF. Technically, people in this stage are considered “pre-heart failure.” 1 This means that you are at higher risk of developing CHF because of your family history, personal health history, and lifestyle choices.
Stage B
Stage B is the second stage of heart failure, but it’s still considered pre-heart failure. You don’t have symptoms of heart failure, but you may have been diagnosed with systolic left ventricular dysfunction, which is reduced power in the left ventricle of your heart.
Stage C
Stage C is the first significant stage of heart failure in terms of how you feel. At this stage, you have been officially diagnosed with heart failure and have or had symptoms. Symptoms in this stage include: 2
Stage D
Stage D is advanced or severe heart failure. At this point, medications and other treatments don’t offer much relief from symptoms. Your symptoms are similar to those in stage C, but more severe. It may be difficult to do much physically without becoming severely tired or out of breath. 1
Prevention
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive disease. Once you have reached a certain stage, you may be able to slow its progression, but you can’t undo damage that has already been done to the heart. For this reason, prevention is a key strategy, especially for people with risk factors of CHF.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the end stages of heart failure, most physical activities will become difficult. You will likely require frequent or prolonged hospitalization or need home health or skilled nursing care. You may also need to wear oxygen or receive intravenous medications.
Summary
Congestive heart failure is a chronic condition that can progress. The stages range from pre-heart failure to advanced heart failure. Once you move on to the next stage, you can’t go back even with treatment.
What is the best treatment for heart failure?
Depending on your symptoms, you might take one or more medications, including: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These drugs relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and decrease the strain on the heart.
How to manage heart failure?
These steps may help you manage heart failure: Keep track of the medications you take. Make a list of all the medications you take, carry it with you and share it with your doctors. Don't stop taking any medications without first talking to your doctor.
What is the best test to check for heart disease?
Blood tests are done to look for signs of diseases that can affect the heart. Chest X-ray. X-ray images can show the condition of the lungs and heart. Electrocardiogram (ECG). This quick and painless test records the electrical signals in the heart. It can show the timing and length of the heartbeats. Echocardiogram.
Is heart failure a chronic disease?
Heart failure is a chronic disease needing lifelong management. However, with treatment, signs and symptoms of heart failure can improve, and the heart sometimes becomes stronger. Treatment may help you live longer and reduce your chance of dying suddenly.
Can heart failure be reversed?
Although many cases of heart failure can't be reversed, treatment can sometimes improve symptoms and help you live longer . You and your doctor can work together to help make your life more comfortable. Pay attention to your body and how you feel, and tell your doctor when you're feeling better or worse. This way, your doctor will know what treatment works best for you. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions about living with heart failure.
What to do if you think you have heart failure?
If you think you may have heart failure or you are worried about your heart failure risk because of other underlying conditions, make an appointment with your family doctor. If heart failure is found early, your treatment may be easier and more effective.
What is the purpose of an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram can be used to measure ejection fraction, which shows how well the heart is pumping and helps classify heart failure and guides treatment. Stress test.
Can heart failure be cured?
Heart failure caused by damage to the heart that has developed over time can’t be cured. But it can be treated, quite often with strategies to improve symptoms. Successful treatment depends on your willingness to get involved in managing the condition.
What is clinical trial?
Clinical trials. Clinical trials are scientific studies that determine if a possible new medical advance can help people and whether it has harmful side effects. Find answers to common questions about clinical trials in our Guide to Understanding Clinical Trials.
What is systolic congestive heart failure?
Systolic congestive heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump blood effectively. It may happen when the heart muscle is too weak or when another health problem prevents it from circulating blood efficiently. Over time, systolic congestive heart failure, or heart failure (HF), can lead to dysfunction of other organs due to inefficient ...
How to help heart health?
Eat a heart-healthy diet: Daily food intake should be low in trans fats, rich in whole grains, and low in sodium and cholesterol.
What is stage A HF?
Stage A. People with stage A HF do not yet have dysfunction of the pumping activity of the heart but have a high risk of developing HF due to related conditions, such as chronic high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.
What are the conditions that cause HF?
People with stage A HF do not yet have dysfunction of the pumping activity of the heart but have a high risk of developing HF due to related conditions, such as chronic high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.
What are the symptoms of HF?
A person usually has no symptoms of HF at this stage but may experience symptoms of their chronic conditions, including: shortness of breath. difficulty breathing. swelling in the hands, feet, and ankles.
Can HF stage B cause left ventricle enlargement?
Structural heart disease develops at this stage, such as reduced pumping function of the heart, which can lead to an enlarged left ventricle. It can also result from a previous heart attack. However, people with HF stage B remain asymptomatic.
What is the most common type of HF?
The most common type of HF is left-sided HF. The left side of the heart must work harder to move the same volume of blood around the body. This may cause a fluid buildup in the lungs and make breathing difficult as it progresses. These fluids give congestive heart failure its name. There are two kinds of left-sided HF.
What is the best treatment for heart failure?
People with heart failure may have severe symptoms, and some may need a heart transplant or a ventricular assist device (VAD). One way to prevent heart failure is to prevent and control conditions that can cause it, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
How to live longer with heart failure?
Proper treatment can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and may help some people live longer. Lifestyle changes — such as losing weight, exercising, reducing salt (sodium) in your diet and managing stress — can improve your quality of life. However, heart failure can be life-threatening.
What is it called when your heart doesn't pump blood?
Heart failure, sometimes known as congestive heart failure, occurs when your heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Certain conditions, such as narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently.
Can heart failure cause enlarged heart?
Some types of heart failure can lead to an enlarged heart. Heart failure can be ongoing (chronic), or it may start suddenly (acute). Heart failure signs and symptoms may include: Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness.
How do you know if you have heart failure?
Heart failure signs and symptoms may include: Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down. Fatigue and weakness. Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Rapid or irregular heartbeat. Reduced ability to exercise.
Which chambers of the heart receive blood?
The upper chambers, the right and left atria, receive incoming blood. The lower chambers, the more muscular right and left ventricles, pump blood out of the heart. The heart valves, which keep blood flowing in the right direction, are gates at the chamber openings. Enlarged heart, in heart failure.
Which chambers pump blood out of the heart?
The lower chambers, the more muscular right and left ventricles, pump blood out of the heart. The heart valves, which keep blood flowing in the right direction, are gates at the chamber openings. Enlarged heart, in heart failure. Open pop-up dialog box. Close.
Is heart failure a cure?
Heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there’s no cure. But many people with heart failure lead a full, enjoyable life when the condition is managed with heart failure medications and healthy lifestyle changes. It’s also helpful to have the support of family and friends who understand your condition.
What is congestive heart failure?
Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires seeking timely medical attention , although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably. Your body depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body’s cells.
What does it mean when your heart isn't pumping?
The term “heart failure” makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all and there’s nothing that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes ...
What happens when your heart is weakened?
With heart failure, the weakened heart can’t supply the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath and some people have coughing. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can become very difficult.
Is heart failure a serious condition?
The body may not get the oxygen it needs. Heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there’s no cure. But many people with heart failure lead a full, enjoyable life when the condition is managed with heart failure medications and healthy lifestyle changes.
How does the heart work?
The normal healthy heart is a strong, muscular pump a little larger than a fist. It pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system. Watch an animation of blood flow through the heart . The heart has four chambers, two on the right and two on the left:
How many chambers does the heart have?
It pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system. Watch an animation of blood flow through the heart . The heart has four chambers, two on the right and two on the left: Two upper chambers called atria (one is called an atrium) Two lower chambers called ventricles.
Stage A
Stage B
Stage C
- Stage C is the first significant stage of heart failure in terms of how you feel. At this stage, you have been officially diagnosed with heart failure and have or had symptoms. Symptoms in this stage include:2 1. Noticeable limitations of physical activity 2. Shortness of breath with activity 3. A low tolerance for activity, easily tired 4. Heart palpitationsor chest pain 5. Most comfortable w…
Stage D
- Stage D is advanced or severe heart failure. At this point, medications and other treatments don’t offer much relief from symptoms. Your symptoms are similar to those in stage C, but more severe. It may be difficult to do much physically without becoming severely tired or out of breath.1 You may also experience multiple organ failure as your blood pressure drops. When the heart ca…
Prevention
- Heart failure is a chronic, progressive disease. Once you have reached a certain stage, you may be able to slow its progression, but you can’t undo damage that has already been done to the heart. For this reason, prevention is a key strategy, especially for people with risk factors of CHF. Heart failure prevention focuses on managing your:5 1. Weight 2. Cholesterol 3. Blood pressure 4. Dia…
Summary
- Congestive heart failure is a chronic condition that can progress. The stages range from pre-heart failure to advanced heart failure. Once you move on to the next stage, you can’t go back even with treatment. However, if caught early, it’s possible to delay or stop disease progression with lifestyle changes and medications. If you have risk factors of heart failure, discuss with your doctor how …
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I expect in the end stage of congestive heart failure?
In the end stages of heart failure, most physical activities will become difficult. You will likely require frequent or prolonged hospitalization or need home health or skilled nursing care. You may also need to wear oxygen or receive intravenous medications. - What is the life expectancy for someone with congestive heart failure?
Your quality of life and outlook depend on your treatment plan, how well you respond to treatment, and how well you follow your treatment plan.
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Heart failure is a chronic disease needing lifelong management. However, with treatment, signs and symptoms of heart failure can improve, and the heart sometimes becomes stronger. Doctors sometimes can correct heart failure by treating the underlying cause. For example, repairing a heart valve or controlling a fast heart rhythm may reverse heart failure. But for most people, trea…
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Making lifestyle changes can often help relieve signs and symptoms of heart failure and prevent the disease from worsening. These changes may be among the most important and beneficial you can make: 1. Stop smoking. Smoking damages your blood vessels, raises blood pressure, reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood and makes your heart beat faster...
Coping and Support
- Proper heart failure treatment can sometimes improve symptoms and help you live longer. You and your doctor can work together to help make you most comfortable. Pay attention to your body and how you feel, and tell your doctor when you're feeling better or worse. This way, your doctor will know what treatment works best for you. These steps may help you manage heart failure: 1. …
Preparing For Your Appointment
- If you think you may have heart failure or you are worried about your heart failure risk because of other underlying conditions, make an appointment with your family doctor. If heart failure is found early, your treatment may be easier and more effective. Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot to discuss, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment. Here's some i…