Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms

Congestive heart failure is the condition characterized by insufficient cardiac output and congestion of the body tissues caused by the accumulation of fluid. It is the condition, where the heart fails to pump enough blood to the cells and tissues of the body. This in turn, can considerably reduce the amount of blood and oxygen reaching to the brain and other tissues of the body. As the flow of blood coming out of the heart reduces, blood returning to the heart through the veins starts to back up, which causes congestion or accumulation of fluid in the tissues. Various conditions can cause this heart problem, which can produce a number of symptoms.

Congestive Heart Failure Causes

Health conditions that can reduce the ability of the heart to pump enough blood, as well as the factors or conditions that can increase the body's requirement of oxygen and blood to such an extent that the heart fails to meet that demand, can cause this problem. Conditions that weaken the heart and compromise its pumping capacity are, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy (damage of the heart muscles), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscles), congenital heart defects, defect in the heart valves, infection of the valves and abnormal heart rhythm or heart arrhythmia.

Diseases that affect the pericardium, mitral or aortic regurgitation, a hole in the heart and narrowing of the arteries can also cause this condition. Apart from these, some other possible causes are, hyperthyroidism, emphysema, diabetes, severe anemia, severe allergic reaction and blood clots in the lungs. Factors like, alcohol abuse, hypertension, diabetes, previous heart attacks, irregular heartbeat and certain kidney diseases are usually considered as the risk factors for heart failure.

Congestive Heart Failure Signs

The inability of the heart to pump enough oxygenated blood can manifest in several symptoms. It can be acute or chronic. In the case of acute congestive heart failure, the symptoms develop suddenly and can worsen quickly. On the other hand, the symptoms of chronic heart failure can worsen gradually over a period of time. The most common symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath, especially on exertion
• Increased fatigue and weakness
• Edema or fluid retention in the body, especially in legs, feet and the ankles
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sudden weight gain (due to edema)
• Coughing and wheezing
• Ascites or accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity
• Chest pain
• Nausea and decreased appetite

Women are also likely to develop a few symptoms like, shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling and weight gain. Water retention and the resulting swelling can more commonly affect the ankles. Some other symptoms that are usually observed in women are, bulging neck vein, persistent dry cough, chest pain, increased heart rate and frequent urination during night.

This condition is more common among the elderly. Such symptoms in the elderly are, shortness of breath, breathing problems while lying down, fainting, shock, fluid accumulation, swelling of the ankles and feet, nausea, loss of appetite, pain in the abdomen and cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest can cause sudden death of the affected individual. The symptoms usually worsen in the advanced stages of congestive heart failure. The symptoms of advanced congestive heart failure are, peripheral edema, pulmonary edema, difficulty in breathing properly while lying down, kidney failure, difficulty in concentrating, reduced alertness, persistent coughing with pinkish phlegm, swelling of the abdomen, feet and the legs.

Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure

It is diagnosed by evaluating the medical history of the patient and with the help of diagnostic procedures like, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, blood tests, ejection fraction, coronary catheterization and cardiac computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. All these tests and examinations help the physicians to ascertain the underlying causes of heart failure. Depending on the causes, an appropriate treatment is designed. Usually, the condition is treated with medications like, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, digoxin, angiotensin II receptor blockers and aldosterone antagonists. Sometimes, implantation of mechanical devices such as, pacemaker is also considered. Repair of faulty heart valves, use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, implantation of heart pumps and heart transplantation are some other treatment options.

Along with medical treatment, lifestyle changes can help to manage these symptoms, and prevent the condition from worsening. Some of the important lifestyle modifications required for the effective management are, reduction in salt or sodium intake, avoidance of smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol, moderate exercises and maintenance of a healthy body weight.