Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the rest of the body (Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). The failure can occur in on either side of the heart. In left-side heart failure, fluid backs up into the lungs, causing shortness of breath, due to the fact that the blood entering the left side of the heart comes from the pulmonary artery, and when the left ventricle cannot pump fluid out of the heart or when the left atrium cannot empty completely into the ventricle it backs up into the lungs. In right-side heart failure, fluid can back up into the abdomen, legs, and feet, causing swelling. The blood being pumped into the right ventricle comes from systemic veins, and when the right atrium or ventricle can 't sufficiently empty, the fluid tends to back up into the body.
There are many ways to treat this condition. ACE inhibitors may be prescribed. These drugs are vasodilators, and help to widen blood vessels to reduce the workload on the heart, decrease blood pressure and increase blood flow (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). Many people with this disease are also prescribed diuretics, to increase fluid loss from the body and reduce fluid buildup and swelling. However, patients often need mineral supplements in addition to taking these drugs. When drugs are not sufficient enough, surgery may also be required. A coronary bypass is a sort of transplant, where veins from an arm or leg are used to bypass a blocked coronary artery, allowing blood to flow freely through the heart. Beta blockers are drugs that block Beta 1 and 2 receptors on the heart, which constrict blood vessels. By doing this and keeping blood vessels dilated, these drugs reduce blood pressure and heart rate. However, Carvedilol is the only agent labeled by the FDA for use in patients with heart failure (Chavey, 2000).
The many symptoms of this condition can occur suddenly (during activity) or develop
Congestive Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the rest of the body (Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). The failure can occur in on either side of the heart. In left-side heart failure, fluid backs up into the lungs, causing shortness of breath, due to the fact that the blood entering the left side of the heart comes from the pulmonary artery, and when the left ventricle cannot pump fluid out of the heart or when the left atrium cannot empty completely into the ventricle it backs up into the lungs. In right-side heart failure, fluid can back up into the abdomen, legs, and feet, causing swelling. The blood being pumped into the right ventricle comes from systemic veins, and when the right atrium or ventricle can 't sufficiently empty, the fluid tends to back up into the body.
There are many ways to treat this condition. ACE inhibitors may be prescribed. These drugs are vasodilators, and help to widen blood vessels to reduce the workload on the heart, decrease blood pressure and increase blood flow (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). Many people with this disease are also prescribed diuretics, to increase fluid loss from the body and reduce fluid buildup and swelling. However, patients often need mineral supplements in addition to taking these drugs. When drugs are not sufficient enough, surgery may also be required. A coronary bypass is a sort of transplant, where veins from an arm or leg are used to bypass a blocked coronary artery, allowing blood to flow freely through the heart. Beta blockers are drugs that block Beta 1 and 2 receptors on the heart, which constrict blood vessels. By doing this and keeping blood vessels dilated, these drugs reduce blood pressure and heart rate. However, Carvedilol is the only agent labeled by the FDA for use in patients with heart failure (Chavey, 2000).
The many symptoms of this condition can occur suddenly (during activity) or develop
References: American Heart Association. (2011, Jan 24). Congestive Heart Failure. Retrieved October 10, 2013, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/Congestive-Heart-Failure_UCM_307111_Article.jsp. Carter, P. (2012). Lippincott’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants: A Humanistic Approach to Caregiving. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chavey, W. (2000, Dec 1). The Importance of Beta Blockers in the Treatment of Heart Failure. American Family Physician, 11. Retrieved October 3, 2013, from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/1201/p2453.html Department of Health & Human Services. (2012, Jan 9). What is Heart Failure? Retrieved October 10, 2013, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hf/. Heart Failure Society of America. (2002). NYHA Classification – The Stages of Heart Failure. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://www.abouthf.org/questions_stages.htm Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013, Aug 16). Heart Failure. Retrieved October 10, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061. Ogbru, O. (2012). Beta Blockers. Retrieved October 10, 2012, from http://www.medicinenet.com/beta_blockers/article.htm U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2010, Oct 1). What is Endocarditis? Retrieved October 3, 2013, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/endo/