Heart failure, also referred to as congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart’s muscle is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should due to certain conditions, such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure, which gradually render the heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump effectively.
While treatments cannot reverse all conditions that cause heart failure, they can help you live longer and improve your quality of life. Lifestyle changes, such as working out, eating less salt, managing stress, and losing weight, can also help you live longer and live better.
Controlling conditions like coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity that lead to heart failure is one way to prevent it.
CausesHeart failure can also happen if the heart becomes too stiff, but it usually happens after other conditions have already damaged or made your heart weak.
The main pumping chambers of your heart (the ventricles) may stiffen and fill improperly between beats in heart failure. In some cases of heart failure, your heart muscle may become weakened and damaged, and the ventricles may stretch (dilate) to the point that the heart can’t pump blood efficiently throughout your body. Over time, the heart can no longer keep up with the normal demands placed on it to pump blood to the rest of your body.
In a healthy heart, the ejection fraction is at least 50%, meaning that more than half of the blood that fills the ventricle is pumped out with each beat; however, heart failure can still happen even with a normal ejection fraction if the heart muscle stiffens due to conditions like high blood pressure.
However, not all heart failure is congestive; you might experience shortness of breath or weakness due to heart failure and not have any fluid building up. The term “congestive heart failure” comes from blood backing up into — or congesting — the liver, abdomen, lower extremities, and lungs.
The left side of your heart, specifically the left ventricle — your heart’s main pumping chamber — can be affected by heart failure, as can the right side of your heart, as can both of your heart’s sides.
Type of heart failure
Description
Left-sided heart failure
Your lungs could become backed up with fluid, which would make you feel breathless.
Right-sided heart failure
Your legs, feet, and abdomen could swell if fluid backs up into them.
Systolic heart failure
Lack of forceful contraction of the left ventricle is a sign of a pumping issue.
Diastolic heart failure
Heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction is another name for it.
Lack of relaxation or incomplete filling of the left ventricle is a sign of a filling issue.
Heart failure can result from any of the following conditions, some of which may already exist without your knowledge:
Coronary artery disease and heart attack.Coronary artery disease is the most widespread type of cardiovascular disease and the leading cause of heart failure. Over time, the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle narrow due to the buildup of fatty deposits, a condition known as atherosclerosis.
A heart attack happens when plaques created by fatty deposits in your arteries burst, causing a blood clot to form, which may block blood flow to a part of the heart muscle, weakening the heart’s ability to pump, and frequently leaving permanent damage. If the damage is severe, it can result in a weakened heart muscle.
High blood pressure (hypertension).Your heart has to work harder than necessary to pump blood throughout your body when your blood pressure is high. Blood pressure is the force with which your heart pumps blood through your arteries.
Your heart muscle may eventually become too stiff or too weak to effectively pump blood, or it may become thicker over time to make up for the additional work it must do.
Faulty heart valves.A damaged valve, whether from a heart defect, coronary artery disease, or heart infection, makes your heart work harder to maintain blood flow as it should. The valves in your heart keep blood flowing through the heart in the right direction.
This additional work over time can weaken your heart; however, if discovered early enough, faulty heart valves can be repaired or replaced.
Damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).Cardiomyopathy, or the damage to the heart muscle, can be caused by a variety of conditions, infections, drinking excessively, using drugs like cocaine or some chemotherapy drugs, as well as a number of other conditions, diseases, and infections.
Myocarditis.The most typical virus that causes myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, can result in left-sided heart failure.
Congenital heart defects: When your heart’s chambers or valves don’t develop normally, the healthy parts of your heart must work harder to pump blood through your body. This can eventually result in heart failure.
Abnormal heart rhythms (heart arrhythmias).A slow heartbeat may prevent your heart from pumping enough blood to the body, which may also result in heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms may cause your heart to beat too quickly, which puts additional strain on your heart and over time may weaken it, resulting in heart failure.
Other diseases.Heart failure may also be brought on by chronic conditions like diabetes, HIV, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or an amyloidosis-like protein or iron buildup.
Acute heart failure can be brought on by viruses that attack the heart muscle, severe infections, allergic reactions, pulmonary blood clots, the use of specific medications, or any illness that affects the entire body.
Symptoms
Heart failure may be chronic or acute, with chronic heart failure being a persistent condition.
The following are possible indications of heart failure:
Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, especially when lying down or exerting oneself
· Fatigue and weakness
Edema, or swelling, in the ankles, feet, and legs
· Rapid or irregular heartbeat
· Reduced ability to exercise
Prolonged coughing or wheezing with phlegm that is pink or white in color from blood.
Nighttime urination is more frequent.
Ascites, a stomach-related swelling
Weight gain that occurs suddenly due to fluid retention
Nausea and inability to eat
Trouble paying attention or a decline in alertness
An unexpectedly severe case of shortness of breath and pink, foamy mucus coughing
Chest pain in the event that a heart attack led to your heart failure
Risk factorsHeart failure may result from just one risk factor, but your risk can also be raised by a number of risk factors.
Risk factors include:
High blood pressure.In the case of high blood pressure, your heart has to work harder than it needs to.
Coronary artery disease.Your heart’s ability to receive enough oxygen-rich blood may be limited by narrowed arteries, which could weaken the heart muscle.
Heart attack.Your heart’s ability to pump blood may be compromised due to damage to your heart muscle caused by a heart attack.
Diabetes.High blood pressure and coronary artery disease are two conditions that are made more likely by diabetes.
Some diabetes medications.Don’t stop taking the diabetes medications rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) on your own; instead, talk to your doctor about whether you need to make any changes.
Certain medications.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), specific anesthetics, some antiarrhythmics, some medications for high blood pressure, cancer, blood disorders, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders, lung disorders, urological disorders, inflammatory disorders, and infections, as well as other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, may all increase the risk of heart problems.
If you have concerns about any of the medications you are taking, talk to your doctor to see if there are any changes that should be made before stopping them altogether.
Sleep apnea.It is possible for the heart to become weaker when you are unable to breathe properly at night, which results in low blood oxygen levels and an increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms.
Congenital heart defects.Heart defects with structural flaws can cause heart failure in some people.
Valvular heart disease.Heart failure is more likely to occur in those with valvular heart disease.
Viruses.Your heart muscle may have been harmed by a viral infection.
Alcohol use.Alcoholism can deteriorate the heart’s muscle and cause heart failure.
Tobacco use.You run a higher risk of developing heart failure if you smoke.
Obesity.Heart failure is more likely to occur in obese people.
Irregular heartbeats.These irregular rhythms can weaken the heart muscle and result in heart failure, especially if they occur frequently and quickly.
Complications–Your prognosis for heart failure depends on the underlying cause and its severity, your general health, and other elements like your age.
Kidney damage or failure.Kidney damage from heart failure can require dialysis for treatment because it can decrease the blood flow to your kidneys, which, if untreated, can eventually result in kidney failure.
Heart valve problems.If your heart is enlarged or if you have heart failure, the valves that keep your blood flowing through your heart in the right direction may not work properly.
Heart rhythm problems.Heart failure complications such as irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) are possible.
Liver damage.A fluid backup that puts too much pressure on the liver as a result of heart failure can cause scarring and make it more challenging for your liver to perform as it should.
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
HomoeopathyWhen it comes to heart failure, homoeopathy has many effective medications available, but the choice depends on the individuality of the patient, taking into account the mental and physical symbiotic relationship.
**AURUM METALLICUM 30—**Heart failure following valvular lesions. Heart feels unsteady when moving. Feelings as if the heart stopped beating for two to three seconds, followed by a tumultuous rebound and sinking at the epigastrium. Oppression at the heart. Pulse rapid, feeble, and irregular. Blood pressure high.
DIGITALIS PURPUREA 3XPulse full, irregular, very slow, and weak, intermitting every third, fifth, or seventh beat. Weak heart. The slightest movement causes violent palpitations. Frequent stitches in heart. Digitalis is an excellent treatment for heart failure with irregular heart beat.
STROPHANTHUS HIS. QThe best treatment for heart failure with edema of the legs is strophanthus.
LAUROCERASUS 30The best treatment for heart failure with pain around the heart is Laurocerasus. Other symptoms of heart failure include clutching at the heart, palpitations, weak, variable, slow, or irregular pulse, retained or involuntary urine, and fainting.
CRATAEGUS OXY. QHeart weakness with oppression, stitches, and insomnia. Extreme dyspnea on the lightest exertion without much increase in heart rate. Heart dilated, first sound weak. Incompetent valves, valvular murmurs. Crataegus is regarded as a heart tonic.
CARDUS MARIANUS Q—Cardus marianus, which causes pressure and stitches in the chest area and oppression with deep breathing, is effective for heart failure with liver complaints.
NAJA TRIPUDIANS 30The best treatment for damaged hearts caused by infectious diseases and heart failure with valvular disorders, weakness, and obvious palpitations is naja.
NUX VOMICA 30—Nux vomica, which usually causes constipation and ineffective desire, is a great treatment for heart failure, which is common in alcoholics.
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