Congestive heart failure, or CHF, affects 5 million Americans and is responsible for 300,000 deaths a year. The condition occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently through the body. Causes of the condition include damage to the heart, coronary artery disease and excess alcohol consumption. Symptoms of CHF include blood and fluids backing up into the lungs, swelling in the extremities, and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Heart failure cannot be reversed; however, symptoms are treated to allow the heart to pump more efficiently.
Medications
Drug therapy is a common method of treatment for CHF patients. The initial treatment focuses on the underlying cause of the condition. Digitalis drugs increase the amount of blood and oxygen in the body by increasing the heart's pumping abilities and reducing the heart rate. Vasodilators such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, often referred to as ACE inhibitors, widen narrow blood vessels, increase blood flow and decrease blood pressure as well as the heart's workload. Beta blockers such as carvedilol and metoprolol reduce heart rate, blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.
The Mayo Clinic reports a CHF patient often requires two or more types of drug therapies to treat symptoms. Acute flare-ups often require additional heart medications and hospitalization.
Surgery
Surgery is often performed to treat underlying causes of CHF. A coronary bypass is performed by removing a blocked artery from the heart and replacing it with a vein from the leg, chest or arm, which results in blood flowing freely to the heart. A dysfunctional heart valve is often repaired or replaced. Repairing the original valve, called valvuloplasty, prevents blood and fluids from flowing back into the heart. When heart valves are not shutting properly, a surgeon repairs broken valve leaflets or removes excess tissue so the valves will firmly shut. Valves that cannot be repaired are replaced with artificial, prosthetic valve devices.
Pacemakers and defibrillators are implanted to correct and monitor the heart's electrical system. The monitors will correct irregular beating and shock the system if the heart stops beating. The Mayo Clinic suggests nearly half of CHF patients have irregular heart contractions causing the weak heart muscle to pump inefficiently.
Heart transplant is necessary if above surgical methods and medication therapy is ineffective. Patients often have to wait months or years for a healthy donor heart. The Mayo Clinic reports some patients improve during the waiting period and are taken off of the waiting list.
Lifestyle Modifications
Lifestyle modifications relieve symptoms of CHF and prevent the condition from worsening. Monitor fluid retention by documenting your weight daily. The Mayo Clinic suggests weighing yourself in the morning, after urinating. Contact a medical doctor if a weight gain of more than 3 pounds occurs.
Decrease sodium intake to decrease fluid retention. Add flavor to food using herbs, spices or lemon. Do not place a salt shaker on the dining room table, to resist the urge to flavor your food. Rinse all canned vegetables in water before cooking.
Participate in a moderate daily exercise program. Many hospitals offer cardiac rehabilitation programs for CHF patients. Walking, gardening or other simple activities are suggested. Exercise also reduces stress and anxiety. Too much stress makes the heart beat faster and more irregular, causing additional complications for CHF patients. The National Institute of Health warns CHF patients to not exercise on the days fluid retention or weight gain has occurred.
