Right Sided Heart Failure Causes

The human heart is a muscular organ that performs the vital function of pumping blood throughout the body. It is undoubtedly the most important organ of the circulatory system. The heart comprises four chambers, the two upper chambers are referred to as atria, while the lower ones are called ventricles. The right side of the human heart comprises the right atrium and right ventricle. These chambers receive the deoxygenated blood from the veins and pump the blood into the lungs.

The left side consists of left atrium and the left ventricle, receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps the blood to the rest of the body. The condition wherein the heart is unable to pump up blood effectively is medically referred to as congestive heart failure. When the right ventricle is unable to pump blood, the blood may back up into the other parts of the body, whereas inability of the left ventricle can cause a buildup of fluid in the lungs. The body's requirements for blood as well as oxygen will not be met in event of a heart failure. This condition can have serious repercussions on one's health.

What Causes Right Sided Heart Failure?

Wondering what causes right sided heart failure? Here are some of the most common causes of right sided heart failure.

Left Sided Heart Failure
Well, left sided heart failure is the most common cause of right sided heart failure. When the left ventricle is unable to pump blood properly, it causes pressure to buildup on the left side, this in turn, affects the right side of the heart as well. In event of a left sided heart failure, blood backs up into the lungs and enters the right ventricle. This puts pressure on the right ventricle and increases the risk of a right sided heart failure. Coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of right sided heart failure. When the arteries supplying blood to the heart get blocked, the supply of the blood to the ventricles gets blocked and this can cause left sided as well as right sided heart failure.

Lung Diseases
People suffering from chronic lung disease are also at an increased risk of developing right sided heart failure. Diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or pulmonary embolism figure in the list of right sided heart failure causes. Pulmonary artery is a specialized artery that is connected to the right ventricle. It carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. Narrowing of the pulmonary artery can also put immense pressure on the right ventricle and can lead to serious damage to the heart muscle.

Heart Disorders
Besides these conditions, heart valve disorders could also be responsible for causing heart failure. Tricuspid stenosis is a condition wherein the tricuspid valve, a valve situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle, becomes constricted. Since this valve facilitates the passage of blood from the atrium to ventricle, the narrowing of this valve affects the flow of blood. When the blood is not able to flow out of the right atrium, it causes the right atrium to enlarge. Tricuspid regurgitation is another heart disease wherein the valve doesn't shut properly. Due to this anomaly, the back-flow of blood during the contraction of ventricle cannot be prevented. This causes volume overload and causes the right ventricular failure. Inflammation and thickening of the pericardium, a serous membrane surrounding the heart can also affect the heart's ability to pump blood. Certain congenital heart defects could also be responsible for heart failure.

Symptoms and Treatment of Right Sided Heart Failure

Now that you have some idea about the common right sided heart failure causes, let's move on to the symptoms and treatment options. The common symptoms of right sided heart failure include swelling of feet and ankles, weakness, fatigue, weight gain, irregular heartbeat, palpitations, frequent urination and fainting spells. If you experience any of these symptoms, you must consult a cardiologist at the earliest. Blood tests, chest X-ray, echocardiogram or other imaging procedures can help in throwing light on the condition of the heart. Since heart failure could be caused due to various medical conditions, it's important that the disease responsible for causing heart problem is treated soon. The congestive heart failure treatment options will vary depending on the extent of damage to the heart as well as the patient's overall health. While medicines will be prescribed for improving the heart's health, surgery might be required in serious cases. Besides the use of medicines such as ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and diuretics, one will also have to make certain lifestyle-related changes. Patients are generally asked to follow certain dietary guidelines and refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.

This was a brief overview of right sided heart failure. If you have been experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, get yourself medically examined immediately. A timely diagnosis and treatment will surely help in averting serious damage to the heart and lower the risk of life-threatening situations. So, keep your heart in a good condition!