What is Heart Failure?
According to MayoClinic.Org,” Heart failure, sometimes referred to 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.” Web. . January 12, 2016
There are contributing factors that can lead to heart failure such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Management of these diseases such as daily exercise, weight loss, decreasing sodium intake, and managing stress can lower the risks of developing heart failure.
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure:
1. Shortness …show more content…
Viruses. A viral infection may have damaged your heart muscle.
9. Tobacco use- Using tobacco can increase your risk of coronary artery disease and heart failure.
10. Obesity- Those who are obese have a higher risk of developing heart failure because the heart has to work harder.
11. Irregular heartbeats- These abnormal rhythms, especially if they are very frequent and fast, can weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure
Complications of heart failure include:
1. Kidney damage- Heart failure can reduce the blood flow to your kidneys, which can eventually cause kidney failure if left untreated. This can lead to the need for dialysis.
2. Heart valve problems-The valves of your heart keep blood flowing in the proper direction. If there is a problem, like stenosis, which is narrowing where the valve opens, blood can back flow in the wrong direction.
3. Heart rhythm problems- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) can be a potential complication of heart failure.
4. Liver damage- right sided heart failure can lead to a buildup of fluid that puts too much pressure on the liver. This fluid backup can lead to scarring, which makes it more difficult for your liver to function …show more content…
Other contributors include non-cardiac conditions such as renal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, anemia, and the side effects of medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium-channel blockers, and thiazolidinedione).
Classifications and Stages of Heart Failure
Doctors usually classify patients' heart failure according to the severity of their symptoms. The table below describes the most commonly used classification system, the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification. It places patients in one of four categories based on how much they are limited during physical activity.
Class Patient Symptoms
I No limitation of physical activity. Ordinary physical activity does not cause undue fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of breath).
II Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of
According to MayoClinic.Org,” Heart failure, sometimes referred to 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.” Web. . January 12, 2016
There are contributing factors that can lead to heart failure such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Management of these diseases such as daily exercise, weight loss, decreasing sodium intake, and managing stress can lower the risks of developing heart failure.
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure:
1. Shortness …show more content…
Viruses. A viral infection may have damaged your heart muscle.
9. Tobacco use- Using tobacco can increase your risk of coronary artery disease and heart failure.
10. Obesity- Those who are obese have a higher risk of developing heart failure because the heart has to work harder.
11. Irregular heartbeats- These abnormal rhythms, especially if they are very frequent and fast, can weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure
Complications of heart failure include:
1. Kidney damage- Heart failure can reduce the blood flow to your kidneys, which can eventually cause kidney failure if left untreated. This can lead to the need for dialysis.
2. Heart valve problems-The valves of your heart keep blood flowing in the proper direction. If there is a problem, like stenosis, which is narrowing where the valve opens, blood can back flow in the wrong direction.
3. Heart rhythm problems- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) can be a potential complication of heart failure.
4. Liver damage- right sided heart failure can lead to a buildup of fluid that puts too much pressure on the liver. This fluid backup can lead to scarring, which makes it more difficult for your liver to function …show more content…
Other contributors include non-cardiac conditions such as renal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, anemia, and the side effects of medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium-channel blockers, and thiazolidinedione).
Classifications and Stages of Heart Failure
Doctors usually classify patients' heart failure according to the severity of their symptoms. The table below describes the most commonly used classification system, the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification. It places patients in one of four categories based on how much they are limited during physical activity.
Class Patient Symptoms
I No limitation of physical activity. Ordinary physical activity does not cause undue fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of breath).
II Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of