Conjunctive Heart Failure

The heart needs its regular supply of blood and oxygen for its proper functioning. A hindrance to this supply can result in the malfunctioning of the heart and impair the pumping action. When such a condition occurs, the heart is unable to pump enough blood or oxygen to suffice the body's requirements. The heart becomes weak and a pressure tends to build up on the muscles of the heart thereby making it difficult for the heart to pump enough oxygen and blood. In the long run, the arteries can become narrow and blood pressure may increase, further weakening the heart and leading to conjunctive heart failure. This condition is also known as conjunctive heart disease or congestive heart failure.

Conjunctive Heart Disease Causes

There can be a number of causes of congestive heart failure, due to an unhealthy lifestyle or congenital heart defect. Listed below are some of the causative factors of this life-threatening heart disease.

• Clogging of the arteries can be one of the reasons for experiencing conjunctive heart failure. A condition called atherosclerosis, where the arteries become hard due to the accumulation of plaque can also be responsible for this heart disorder.
• Obstruction of the coronary artery can cause poor blood flow to the heart. This in turn can result in heart attack, which may pose a threat to life if left undiagnosed.
• Sometimes due to the presence of an infection, excessive alcohol intake or drug abuse, the heart muscles may degenerate and malfunction. This disorder can lead to the damage of the cardiac muscles and is known as cardiomyopathy.
• Some other causative factors may be the presence of kidney diseases, congenital defects in the heart, diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) and thyroid disorders etc.

Conjunctive Cardiac Failure Symptoms

Observing the signs and symptoms can help identify and treat this health disorder in the initial stages. Given below are a few congestive heart failure symptoms. The symptoms may be categorized on the nature of heart failure - chronic and acute.

• One of the primary symptoms that is noticeable is dyspnea or shortness of breath, especially when lying down. This condition may become intense while exercising or doing a strenuous work.
• The individual may also experience heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat. Sometimes, the heartbeats may sound like pounding sensation.
• A condition called ascites, where the abdomen swells considerably is also observed as one of the symptoms of chronic conjunctive heart failure.
• Unexplained weight gain and swelling of the extremities can be a result of accumulation of fluid in the body. The individual may also find it difficult to concentrate on a particular task for a longer time.
• In case of acute congestive heart disease, the individual may experience symptoms like severe chest pain, which may radiate to the shoulder and the arms, coughing up pink tinged phlegm and loss of appetite etc.

Conjunctive Heart Failure Treatment

It is essential to go in for an early diagnosis if you suspect you may be having a heart problem. Timely diagnosis can prevent this condition from turning into acute congestive heart failure, which may worsen and also prove to be fatal in some cases. Diagnostic tests like a chest X-ray, blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), CT or an MRI scan may be conducted to review the condition of the heart and the severity of the heart disease. Before administering treatment, the doctor may also evaluate the previous medical history of the patient. Once all the diagnostic tests are carried out, the doctor may proceed towards administering the symptomatic treatment for this disorder. Medication like beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and digoxin may be prescribed to improve the condition of the heart. Diuretics help in draining the excess fluid from the body. Damage or blockage to the heart valve can be corrected with heart valve replacement surgery or coronary bypass surgery. In case the condition is intense, then the patient may have to undergo surgery to correct the disorder. Sometimes, when the condition is irreversible, then a heart transplant may be required to save the patient's life.

Routine checkup with a health care provider can prevent any form of heart disorder and help you live a healthy, disease free life. Wish you good health and take care!