Congestive heart failure

What is congestive heart failure? Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscles. While often referred to simply as “heart failure,” CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up around the heart and causes it to pump inefficiently. You have four heart chambers. The upper half of your heart has two atria, and the lower half of your heart has two ventricles. The ventricles pump blood to your body’s organs and tissues, and the atria receive blood from your body as it circulates back from the rest of your body. CHF develops when your ventricles can’t pump enough blood volume to the body. Eventually, blood and other fluids can back up inside your: lungs abdomen liver lower body CHF can be life-threatening. If you suspect you or someone near you has CHF, seek immediate medical treatment.

What are the most common types of CHF? Left-sided CHF is the most common type of CHF. It occurs when your left ventricle doesn’t properly pump blood out to your body. As the condition progresses, fluid can build up in your lungs, which makes breathing difficult. There are two kinds of left-sided heart failure: Systolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle fails to contract normally. This reduces the level of force available to push blood into circulation. Without this force, the heart can’t pump properly. Diastolic failure, or diastolic dysfunction, happens when the muscle in the left ventricle becomes stiff. Because it can no longer relax, the heart can’t quite fill with blood between beats. Right-sided CHF occurs when the right ventricle has difficulty pumping blood to your lungs. Blood backs up in your blood vessels, which causes fluid retention in your lower extremities, abdomen, and other vital organs. It’s possible to have left-sided and right-sided CHF at the same time. Usually, the disease starts in the left side and then travels to the right when left untreated. What are the causes of CHF, and am I at risk? CHF may result from other health conditions that directly affect your cardiovascular system. This is why it’s important to get annual checkups to lower your risk for heart health problems, including high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary artery disease, and valve conditions. What are the symptoms of CHF? In the early stages of CHF, you most likely won’t notice any changes in your health. If your condition progresses, you’ll experience gradual changes in your body. Symptoms you may notice first Symptoms that indicate your condition has worsened Symptoms that indicate a severe heart condition fatigue irregular heartbeat chest pain that radiates through the upper body swelling in your ankles, feet, and legs a cough that develops from congested lungs rapid breathing weight gain wheezing skin that appears blue, which is due to lack of oxygen in your lungs increased need to urinate, especially at night shortness of breath, which may indicate pulmonary edema fainting Chest pain that radiates through the upper body can also be a sign of a heart attack. If you experience this or any other symptoms that may point to a severe heart condition, seek immediate medical attention.