Heart failure affects more than 5 million people in the United States as of 2011, reports the Texas Heart Institute. Symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue, weight gain from fluid buildup, chest pain and a fast or irregular pulse. Laboratory blood tests may show an electrolyte imbalance in the presence of congestive heart failure.
What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
Congestive heart failure, or CHF, occurs when the heart is unable to provide an adequate blood supply for the body's organs. Causes of CHF include coronary artery disease, in which the arteries supplying the heart muscle with blood become constricted; congenital heart defects; heart infection, such as myocarditis or endocarditis; heart valve disease; and high blood pressure, reports the American Heart Association.
In CHF, insufficient pumping inhibits circulation and causes a buildup of fluid in the tissues in the legs, ankles and lungs. The kidneys are unable to excrete sodium and water efficiently and the swelling increases.
What Are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes, such as calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium, which are positively charged, and chloride, bicarbonate and phosphates, which are negatively charged, are molecules found in blood plasma. These indicate the condition of your body's acid-base ratio, endocrine and renal systems, water balance and other conditions. There is a fine line between the intracellular and extracellular electrolytes to maintain an electrolyte balance, according to the Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health.
Electrolytes have many functions, such as regulating heart rhythms and affecting the amount of water retained in your body. In conditions such as CHF, excess sodium causes water retention leading to edema.
Abnormal Heartbeat
Electrolyte imbalance is one possible cause of abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. The electrical system of the heart depends on the right amount of electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, to function in rhythm, force and rate to provide adequate blood supply throughout the body. Types of arrhythmias include too fast, too slow and electrical impulses initiating in the wrong chamber of the heart. Abnormal heart rhythms can increase the risk for heart failure.
Treatment
Congestive heart failure treatment may include medicines to increase the heart function, such as vasodilators, inotropics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers, according to the Texas Heart Institute. Diuretics may be necessary to remove the excess fluid from the body. For CHF caused by an electrolyte imbalance, medications, such as a potassium supplement, may be prescribed. You may be instructed to increase or decrease your dietary intake of sodium, calcium or potassium.
Lifestyle changes that may relieve some of the symptoms of CHF include the following: smoking cessation; limiting your intake of saturated fats and cholesterol; maintaining a moderate exercise routine as instructed by your doctor; and following the instructions of your doctor or nutritionist regarding reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
