The heart is a muscular pump that circulates blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and other nutrients to the tissues. Congestive heart failure, or CHF, is a condition that makes the heart inefficient and unable to fully perform its job. When the heart fails, sufficient blood is not able to get to the rest of the body. According to MedlinePlus, congestive heart failure is almost always a chronic condition. Atherosclerosis, or the narrowing of arteries, diabetes and high blood pressure all cause the heart to work harder over long periods of time and eventually damage it, making it unable to pump efficiently.
Medications
Congestive heart failure cannot be cured, but contributory causes can be treated and symptoms of CHF can be mitigated through a variety of drugs. Medication is often a cornerstone of heart failure treatment. Doctors will prescribe several medications in an attempt to control symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. ACE inhibitors block the action of Angiotensin II, which is an enzyme that causes constriction of blood vessels. Keeping the blood vessels dialated or open helps reduce blood pressure and heart's workload. Diuretics or water pills, help keep fluids from building up in the body and reduces swelling. The less fluid the heart has to pump, the more relaxed and efficient it can be. The body has natural chemicals that are released when stressed and cause the heart to work harder. Beta blockers are medications that help block the heart's response to these stress hormones. Digoxin is a medicine that helps to slow the heart beat and increase the force of contractions, according to Heartfailure.org. Digoxin makes the heart more efficient. Other medications may be prescribed to specifically treat high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.
Lifestyle Modification
Certain lifestyle factors may be contributing to how hard the heart must work and can be modified to reduce stress on the heart. According to Heart.org, smoking contributes to excessive heart load. Nicotine found in tobacco smoke temporarily increases heart rate and blood pressure. It also decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood, causing the heart to have to pump more to deliver the same amount of oxygen. Other factors, such as losing weight, limiting alcohol, eating a low-sodium and heart-healthy diet, and getting appropriate rest can help decrease stress on the heart.
Exercise
Exercise is beneficial in several different ways for patients with CHF. Remaining active helps keep the heart as strong and healthy as possible. Exercise can also help reduce body weight and cholesterol. It is important to check with a doctor before beginning an exercise program to ensure that it is safe, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Surgery
As the disease progresses, medications may not be able to keep up and surgery may be required. Procedures can implant a pacemaker or a defibrillator to maintain heart synchronization. Eventually, a heart transplant may be required, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
