Congestive heart failure, commonly referred to as heart failure, is a chronic illness that becomes worse over time. The condition is typically caused by a weakened or stiff heart, which leads to its inability to pump blood as efficiently as it normally would. Blood might back up as a result and fluid may accumulate in the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath and swelling in the legs and feet.
Types of heart failure
- Left-sided heart failure: Shortness of breath caused by a build-up of fluids in the lungs
- Right-sided heart failure: Swelling caused by a build-up of fluids in the abdomen, legs, and feet
- Systolic heart failure: Inability of the heart to effectively pump blood due to the left ventricle contracting weakly
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Issues with the filling of the heart due to the left ventricle not being able to relax or to be fully filled.
Causes
Heart failure typically develops after other conditions:
- High blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy (conditions that affect the cardiac muscle)
- Problems with the heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
- Damage or other issues related to the heart valves
- Congenital heart disease (birth defects)
- Hyperthyroidism (Overactivity of the thyroid gland)
- Anaemia
- Excessive intake of alcohol
- High pressure in the blood vessels leading to the lungs from the heart (pulmonary hypertension)
Signs and symptoms
- Shortness of breath following activity or while at rest
- Congestion of lungs
- Weakness and fatigue
- Swelling of the legs and ankles caused by water retention
- Constant coughing
- Rapid or erratic heartbeat
- Lightheadedness
Risk factors
- Conditions including coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, heart attack, hypertension, abnormal heartbeats, diabetes, and heart-damaging or weakening viral infections
- Specific medicines, which include diabetes drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); certain anaesthesia medicines; and certain medicines used to treat hypertension, blood conditions, cancer, irregular heartbeats, nervous system conditions, mental health conditions, lung and urinary issues, inflammatory diseases and infections
- Overconsumption of alcohol
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Sleep apnoea (difficulty breathing while sleeping)
Diagnosis
- Evaluation of medical history
- Evaluation of symptoms and risk factors
- Blood tests
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Echocardiogram
- Stress test
- Coronary angiogram
- Myocardial biopsy
Treatment options
- Healthy lifestyle adjustments
- Medicines
- Chest-implanted devices to regulate the heart rhythm
- Surgery e.g., a heart transplant or bypass surgery
Prevention
Consider changes to your lifestyle that can lower your risk of developing heart disease, such as:
- Quitting smoking
- Keeping your hypertension and diabetes (if any) in check.
- Staying physically active
- Practising an active lifestyle
- Keeping a healthy weight
- Managing stress levels
Visit your nearest Gleneagles Hospital to learn more about our Cardiology Services
References:
- Heart failure. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142?p=1 [Accessed on 29 April 2022]
- Heart failure. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/# [Accessed on 29 April 2022]
- Heart failure - Diagnosis. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373148?p=1 [Accessed on 11 May 2022]
