Heart failure is known as a condition in which the heart is damaged due to different causes and is unable to pump the necessary blood to the body. The most common causes include damage and contraction of the heart muscle due to the risk of heart attack. It is a chronic and progressive disease. Depending on the condition and stage of the disease, recovery can be achieved with medication and different methods.
In cases where not enough blood is delivered to the body, the heart may speed up and try to reach a normal rhythm, causing narrowing of the vessels. There are many factors that cause this condition. Early diagnosis of the disease increases the cure rate in treatment. In case of symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately and treatment should not be delayed.
What are the Symptoms of Heart Failure?
Depending on the condition of the disease, the severity of the symptoms may vary from person to person. However, the symptoms are usually similar. Common heart failure symptoms are as follows:
- Chest pain
- Quick and rapid fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach problems and nausea
- Sudden increase in weight
- Cough
- White or pink colored sputum
- Irregular pulse movements
- Heart palpitations
- Edema and swelling in the feet, legs and abdomen
- Frequent urination
- Prominence of blood vessels in the neck area
What are the Causes of Heart Failure?
It is a disease in which damage or weakening of the heart occurs due to different problems in the heart. Stiffening of the blood pumping chambers (ventricles) in the heart can cause the heart not to be fully filled with blood between beats.
Damage to or weakening of the heart muscle can also lead to enlargement of the ventricular system, so that blood cannot reach the body as it should. Genetic factors also play an important role in the development of this disease. A family medical history of this disease also increases the risk of it occurring in other individuals.
In addition to these, the different causative factors seen among the causes of heart failure can be listed as follows:
- Heart attack
- Hypertension
- Diseases associated with the heart valve
- Diseases of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- Genetic factors
- Heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia)
- Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
- Diabetes, i.e. diabetes
- Thyroid diseases
- HIV
- Alcohol use
- Drugs
- Some long-term and continuously used medicines
- Obesity
What are the Types of Heart Failure?
This condition can affect both parts of the heart or it can be seen unilaterally. Usually the left side of the heart is affected. After left ventricular systolic or diastolic failure, the right side can also be affected and develop bilaterally.
In addition to these, a different type of congestive heart failure, called congestive heart failure, can cause blood to accumulate in different parts of the body due to the slowing of the transmission and outflow of blood to the heart. This can occur in the feet and ankles, but can also occur in the legs.
It can cause swelling in the lungs, causing different problems and problems such as shortness of breath. There are also 2 different types of al, acute or chronic. These are as follows:
Acute Heart Failure
It is a condition in which symptoms appear quickly and disappear suddenly. This condition usually occurs after a heart attack in people who have had a heart attack and is usually related to some problems with the heart valves.
Chronic Heart Failure
Most cases fall into the chronic group. The symptoms experienced in this type are the same and persistent. It is a condition that does not improve over time.
How is Heart Failure Diagnosed?
With the onset of symptoms, health institutions should be visited immediately and the problem should be determined. In cases, a physical examination is performed by taking the patient's medical history. Some diagnostic tests are then performed.
The most effective method used todiagnose heart failure is known as echocardiogram. With this method, a detailed image of the heart is obtained using sound waves. Possible damage and functional problems in the heart are detected.
In some cases, a diagnosis can be made depending on the cause of the symptoms. During the physical examination, edema formation and some areas of the body are examined. The heart rhythm is checked and the heart rate is monitored. By examining the swelling of the veins in the neck, a definitive conclusion can be reached in the detection of the disease.
In addition, since the symptoms of this condition may be similar to some other heart and lung diseases, detailed diagnostic techniques and diagnostic tests can also be applied to identify such health problems. After the diagnosed disease, the treatment process is planned and started quickly, depending on the condition and progression of the disease.
How is Heart Failure Treated?
If the disease is diagnosed, the treatment process is planned by the doctor and transferred to the patient. Generally, the first target is to maintain the current state of health and prevent the progression of the disease. In addition, it is tried to reduce the situations that badly affect the daily life of the person.
Since thetreatment of heart failure varies depending on the condition of the disease and the individual, improvement can be achieved by using some drug therapies and surgical applications.
In cases such as hypertension, arrhythmia, diabetes that cause the disease or increase its severity, treatments such as medication, changes in eating habits and lifestyle changes can be applied.
It is very important to use medication at the dose and frequency recommended by the doctor. The person should not think of a self-treatment and should use the medications recommended by the doctor in the same dosage as prescribed.
Medications help to improve the functional impairment of the heart and reduce shortness of breath and edema problems. Depending on the stage of the disease, some medications may be used together and pharmacological treatment may also be recommended.
Surgical Treatments in Heart Failure
In addition to medication, another preferred treatment option is surgical treatment. Coronary bypass surgery, surgical interventions to replace or repair heart valves, pacemaker surgery, stent and balloon methods are also available in cases of blockage or stenosis in the heart vessels and heart transplantation.
The main purpose of the operations is to provide healing by solving the defective structure, hardening and some problems in the heart. It is also aimed to identify and eliminate some factors that cause the disease to progress.
It is a life-threatening disease. With early diagnosis and correct treatment, the risks of the disease are minimized and the patient's daily life is facilitated.
If the disease is detected early and necessary precautions are taken, the person can lead a healthy life and take precautions against any negative situation that may occur in the future.