1. It's a Pump Failure
Basically, the heart is a pump and blood vessels are pipes through which blood is pumped. When the pump fails, problems develop. The sum total of those problems is congestive heart failure or CHF. Part of the problems are caused by the heart's difficulty to get enough blood to various organs to make them work properly. Other problems are caused by a backup of fluid into tissues because the heart can't move blood through the loop of pipes that comprises the circulatory system.
2. So Many Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms of CHF is shortness of breath. A fluid build up in the lungs causes this shortness of breath as it interferes with the exchange of oxygen. If this backup extends through the lungs and into the veins, fluid begins to back up in the rest of the body, resulting in swelling of the ankles and lower legs. Cough, fatigue and fast breathing are other symptoms caused by fluid build up. The failure to deliver an appropriate amount of oxygenated blood adds to the fatigue. It also leads to kidney failure, difficulty thinking and in the most severe cases, liver failure.
3. Any Heart Damage Can Cause CHF
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, also called coronary artery disease or hardening of the arteries, is the most common cause of CHF. This disease limits blood flow to the heart by narrowing coronary arteries. If an artery develops a clot, as in a heart attack or acute coronary syndrome, entire areas may die, leaving scar in the place of muscle. Less commonly, viral infections and autoimmune diseases, or diseases where the body attacks itself, directly attack muscle fibers. Formerly, damage to heart valves was a common cause of CHF, but the decrease in the incidence of rheumatic fever has made this problem less common.
4. Muscle Tone Improves CHF
To improve CHF, heart muscle must become less "flabby." There must be a decrease in the amount of fluid sloshing around, and oxygenation must improve. Stronger heart muscle contractions, or digitalis, and reducing blood pressure with hypertensive medications helps the heart to not have to push against as much pressure. Some patients also require oxygen.
5. Man's Best Friend and CHF
Pets may also develop CHF through a processes identical to people. As an animal's heart loses some of its ability to pump effectively, he may slow down, cough, become lethargic and lose his playfulness. Because animals' hearts are not located at the top of a 2 legged body, their symptoms differ from people. For example, they are not prone to ankle swelling. The mechanism of CHF is the same, and some of the medications used to treat it, such as lasix and furosemide, are identical.
