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Congestive heart failure (CHF) is when the heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. In Hong Kong, people with high blood pressure and coronary artery diseases are far more likely to develop heart failure. Congestive heart failure can be fatal and requires timely medical attention. It is important to recognize and treat congestive heart failure as early as possible.
Congestive heart failure, sometimes simply called heart failure or CHF, is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It usually occurs because one or both sides of the heart become too weak or stiff. In most cases, such a defect occurs in the left part of the heart more often.
Congestive heart failure is a serious long-term condition that gradually worsens. Although congestive heart failure cannot usually be cured, patients are still able to live a full and enjoyable life when they manage the condition with heart failure medications and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Support from family and friends is helpful as well.
Congestive heart failure is often the result of a number of problems affecting the heart at the same time, for example:
Congestive heart failure can be caused by pulmonary hypertension, an overactive thyroid, anemia, or excessive alcohol.
If you are suffering from congestive heart failure, it means that your heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demand for oxygen. The heart tries harder to make up for the insufficient pumping by developing more muscle fibers to pump stronger and faster. The body would also compensate by narrowing blood vessels to keep blood pressure up. As these changes mask and compensate heart failure problems temporarily, patients may not realize the condition initially. As heart muscles enlarge and demand more and more oxygen, the heart can’t keep up with the workload eventually. Causing the experiences of fatigue, breathing problems or other symptoms that prompt a trip to the doctor.
Doctors usually classify congestive heart failure according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification, with class 1 being the least severe and 4 being the most severe.
CLASS | CLINICAL SIGNS & SYMPTOMS |
---|---|
I | No limitation of physical activity. Ordinary physical activity does not cause undue breathlessness, fatigue or palpitation. |
II | Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest, but ordinary physical activity results in undue breathlessness, fatigue or palpitation. |
III | Marked limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest, but minor physical activity causes fatigue, palpitation, or dyspnea. |
IV | Unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort, and may have symptoms of heart failure even during rest. If any physical activity is undertaken, discomfort increases. |
You may develop congestive heart failure more readily with these risk factors:
In the early stages of congestive heart failure, changes are usually unnoticeable. Signs and symptoms may develop quickly (acute heart failure) or gradually over weeks to months (chronic heart failure).
Typical signs and symptoms of heart failure are:
Congestive heart failure can result in HEART ATTACK with the below signs and symptoms:
If you experience the above signs and symptoms of HEART ATTACK, YOU MUST GET HELP IMMEDIATELY! Get help from people nearby, call 999 and seek emergency service right away!
If not properly treated, congestive heart failure may result in the following complications:
To diagnose heart failure, your doctor will look for the corresponding signs and symptoms. Your doctor will also perform physical examinations and heart tests. If congestive heart failure is suspected or confirmed, you may be referred to a cardiologist.
Doctors may suggest one or more of the below tests to make the diagnosis of congestive heart failure:
A healthy lifestyle, which includes a well-balanced diet, exercising and not smoking, can help keep the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure under control. These are the same healthy lifestyle changes recommended to prevent heart diseases.
Nevertheless, since heart failure can compromise the immune system and make a person more vulnerable to infections, all heart failure patients may be recommended to take the annual flu vaccine and the one-off pneumococcal vaccine.
In many cases, heart failure patients need to take more than 2 different medications for the rest of their lives. Some of the major medicines for congestive heart failure include:
Some people with heart failure may require surgery to implant a cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker beneath the chest wall. A pacemaker is a small device that monitors heart rate continuously and sends electrical pulses to the heart to keep it beating regularly and at the right rhythm.
When most of the above treatments fail, a heart transplant may be the last treatment option. A heart transplant is a complex surgery with high risks, and patients often have to wait for a long period of time for a suitable and available donor.
A healthy lifestyle lowers your risk of developing heart diseases and may help prevent congestive heart failure from getting worse. Stay healthy by:
LVEF is the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the left ventricle by each ventricle contraction. The left ventricle is one of the four chambers in your heart. It pumps blood out of your heart to the whole body. A normal LVEF should be 50% or greater, meaning that at least 50% of the total blood in the left ventricle is pumped out by each heartbeat.
Congestive heart failure patients need to monitor their weight change carefully. Heart failure can cause fluid accumulation, leading to rapid weight gain and oedema. If you gain more than 2 pounds (0.9 kg) in 1 day, or 5 pounds (2.27 kg) in 1 week, visit your doctor right away.
If you have congestive heart failure, your heart is unable to pump effectively. As a result, there is back pressure on your lower limbs, causing oedema. CHF can also cause pulmonary oedema and abdominal swelling when fluid buildup in the lungs and abdomen respectively.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Adrian Cheong 張仁宇醫生. Dr. Cheong is a cardiologist practicing at the Virtus Medical Group now. He graduated from the University of Oxford and spent years working in the UK, including at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals. Dr. Cheong is particularly interested in dealing with coronary artery disease, valve disease, heart failure, minimally invasive surgery on arteries, veins and valves.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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