Heart failure: symptoms, causes and treatment

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Definition of heart failure

What is heart failure?

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a medical term that refers to conditions when the heart muscle can't pump blood properly.

Under normal conditions, the heart pumps blood continuously, whether you are active or resting. There are four chambers in the heart, with two chambers on top (atria) and two at the bottom (ventricles).

A person who has heart failure will experience slow blood flow throughout his body. This will worsen the condition of the disease, because the amount of blood pumped is below normal limits and the chambers of the heart will become stiff and thick.

Finally, this condition causes the heart muscle to weaken and cannot work effectively. Both one and both sides of your heart can develop this condition. Please note that this condition is different from a heart attack and a weak heart.

If you have experienced this condition, especially one that is chronic or chronic, your heart may not be able to return to normal work. However, there are several ways to treat and manage the symptoms that are present.

How common is heart failure?

Heart failure is one of the most common heart diseases. As many as 900,000 new cases of this condition are reported every year.

Although everyone of all ages can experience this condition, your risk of developing heart failure will increase with age.

In addition, women tend to be more prone to experiencing this condition at a later age than men. Cases of incidence in women who suffer from high blood pressure are also more common.

Until now, there is no way that can be done to cure congestive heart failure completely. However, it can be controlled by reducing your risk factors.

Types of heart failure

According to the American Heart Association, heart failure is divided into three types:

1. Left heart failure

The process of pumping blood by the heart begins with blood flowing from the lungs, then to the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. After that, the blood will be pumped to all parts of the body.

The left ventricle of the heart plays the biggest role in pumping blood. Therefore, it is the largest in size compared to other heart chambers.

Left heart failure can be divided into two subtypes:

Systolic heart failure

During systolic heart failure, the left ventricle of the heart is unable to contract normally. This means that the heart does not have enough power to pump and circulate blood.

Diastolic heart failure

Diastolic heart failure is a condition in which the left ventricle of the heart is unable to relax normally because the muscles become stiff. This condition causes the heart to be unable to fill with sufficient blood during the pause phase between each beat.

2. Right-sided heart failure

The function of the right heart is to pump blood to the lungs so that the blood is filled with oxygen.

Generally, failure of the right heart occurs due to failure of the left heart. If the left heart has a problem, an increase in fluid will occur and fluid will flow back into the lungs, so that the right heart will be damaged.

If the right side of the heart loses its ability to pump blood, blood returns to the veins. This condition can cause swelling or blockage of the feet, ankles, and abdomen.

3. Congestive heart failure

This condition requires medical attention as soon as possible. When blood flow from the heart slows down, there will be a buildup in the veins, so edema (swelling) has the potential to occur.

In addition, the fluid that builds up in the lungs can cause breathing problems. This condition is called pulmonary edema. Not only a problem with the lungs, this condition can also affect the function of the kidneys in removing water and sodium. This is at risk of causing edema in other body organs.

Signs & symptoms of heart failure

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of heart failure include:

1. Difficulty breathing

You may experience breathing problems when you exercise, rest, or lie in bed. In fact, this condition can occur during sleep, causing you to wake up.

Typically, you may often have breathing problems when you are lying straight and need one to two extra pillows to support your head to breathe better. You may also wake up feeling uncomfortable and tired.

This condition occurs when blood returns to the blood vessels in the lungs. This is because the heart cannot accommodate this blood supply. As a result, there is a buildup of fluid in the lungs.

2. Excessive fatigue, especially after activity

Your body, especially in the legs, will feel tremendous fatigue. The severity of these symptoms will increase with activity. In fact, you can get tired easily even if you only do daily activities as usual.

This condition is caused by the inability of the heart to pump blood according to the needs of the body's tissues. This causes the body to divert blood from less vital organs such as the muscles in the calves, and flow it to the heart and brain.

3. Swelling in several parts of the body (Edema)

Edema is swelling that occurs in several parts of the body. This condition can occur in the feet, ankles, thighs, or certain parts of the stomach. In fact, this condition can also be characterized by drastic weight gain without being known for sure what causes it.

This is because the blood flow out of the heart slows down, blood will return to the heart through the blood vessels, resulting in a buildup of fluid.

This condition affects the kidneys, which makes it difficult to filter sodium and water. If your kidneys can't filter enough blood, your body will have excess fluid.

This fluid can cause edema (swelling) in several parts of the body. In addition, your weight has the potential to increase. However, this increase is due to excessive fluid in several parts of the body.

4. Too frequent urination at night

The force of gravity causes blood flow to the kidneys to increase. This condition causes the kidneys to produce more urine, so you want to urinate more often.

5. Dizziness

If there is not enough blood flowing to the brain, you will experience symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and even fainting.

6. Palpitations

Palpitations or palpitations are conditions in which the heart beats faster than normal. This condition feels like the heart is beating fast. This is because the heart wants to "replace" the lost speed when pumping blood. The goal, the heart tries to pump blood normally.

Therefore, that speed is "funneled" through the beating heart. In addition, irregular heartbeat can also be caused by other conditions. For example, an enlarged heart.

7. Dry cough

Cough caused by heart failure usually occurs when you are lying down, or there is a buildup of fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema).

This dry cough is usually accompanied by phlegm that has a white or pink color. If you experience this condition and it is accompanied by other symptoms of heart failure, it never hurts to have your condition checked by a doctor. You should not underestimate this one symptom.

8. Abdominal bloating and nausea

You may also experience flatulence, a hardened stomach, loss of appetite, and nausea and vomiting.

This happens because your digestive system receives an amount of blood that is not according to its needs.

9. Unable to think or feel confused

Other symptoms include memory loss and loss of ability to recognize conditions around you. Usually, people closest to you will notice this symptom.

This occurs due to changes in the levels of certain substances in the blood. For example, changes in sodium levels in the body can cause confusion and lead to disorientation.

Apart from the symptoms that have been mentioned above, there may be other symptoms that are not mentioned. If you have concerns about a certain symptom and are not sure about a health condition, it never hurts to consult about that condition with your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Swelling occurs in the soles of the feet, feet, ankles, or abdomen.
• Inability to carry out daily activities.
• Wake up at night due to shortness of breath.
• Cough at night.
• Confusion or restlessness.
• Dehydration.
• Chest pain.
• Heart rate faster than normal (more than 120 / minute at rest).

If you have any of the signs or symptoms listed above or have any questions, please consult your doctor.

Each sufferer's body shows signs and symptoms that vary. To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition, always consult any symptoms you experience to the doctor or the nearest health service center.

Causes of heart failure

What causes heart failure?

Heart failure is a condition that can be caused by other health problems or disorders. Here are some common causes of heart failure:

• Coronary heart disease.
• Heart attack.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
• Heart valve abnormalities.
• Heart muscle problems.
• Lung disease.
• Diabetes.

Heart failure risk factors

Heart failure is a condition that can occur in almost anyone of all ages and racial groups. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for developing this condition.

The following are risk factors that lead to heart failure:

• Age.
• Gender.
• Suffer from high blood pressure.
• Having a heart problem or disease.
• Have diabetes.
• Undergo certain medications.
• Have excess body weight (obesity)
• Having an unhealthy lifestyle.

Diagnosis & treatment of heart failure

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

In diagnosing heart failure, the doctor will carry out a thorough examination. The doctor will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and you will be asked to undergo a physical exam.

When undergoing a physical exam to diagnose heart failure or congestive heart failure, your doctor will do the following:

• Listen to your heart and look for any sounds that sound abnormal (heart murmur).
• Listen to your lungs for any sounds that indicate a build-up of fluid in them.
• Find out if there is swelling in the legs, arms, stomach, and blood vessels in the neck.

In addition, the doctor will also ask you to do some additional tests if you are suspected of having abnormalities in heart function, including:

1. Blood test

The doctor will take a sample of your blood for examination in the laboratory. Generally, the doctor will check whether there is a natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in your blood to confirm this disease.

2. Image test

In addition, the doctor will perform several types of imaging tests or image taking. Some of the methods that will be recommended are CT scans and MRI scans.

3. Electrocardiogram

In the electrocardiogram test, you will be given electrodes. This substance can be used to detect the electrical activity of the heart with certain tools.

4. Echocardiogram

In the echocardiogram method, the doctor will use sound waves to see the function of the heart and its valves

5. Coronary angiogram

The doctor will insert a small catheter into your blood vessel, which will then be directed toward your coronary arteries. After this, a liquid ink will be injected through this catheter.

This liquid ink will help the doctor see the inside of the artery through the X-ray machine.

How to treat heart failure?

To date, there is no permanent cure for heart failure. Even so, there are medications that can only control symptoms and help people stay alive and active. If heart failure is treated promptly, you may be able to avoid the various complications of heart failure that may occur.

To help you control your blood pressure and aid in the pumping action of your heart, your doctor may prescribe medications, including:

• Angiotensin-converting inhibitor enzyme.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers.
• Beta blockers.
• Diuretic pills.
• Aldosterone antagonists.
• Inotropic.
• Dopamine.

In addition to the use of drugs to treat heart failure, there are also surgical procedures that may be done to treat this condition, such as:

• Heart bypass surgery.
• Heart valve repair surgery.
• Heart transplant.
• Installation operation ventricullar assist devices to prevent heart failure including congestive heart failure.

Home remedies for heart failure

Your doctor will also provide advice on making lifestyle changes for you such as:

• Be more physically active.
• Quit smoking.
• Take control of stress.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Reduce eating foods with high salt content and fat.
• Diabetes control.
• Regular exercise at least three times a week, and make sure to choose sports that are healthy for the heart.
• Enough rest.
• Take medication regularly for people with congestive heart failure even though the symptoms are no longer felt because the heart damage is permanent.
• Diligent medical check up see a doctor to monitor your condition thoroughly.

If you have any further questions, please consult your doctor to better understand the best solution.