Now that the components of the heart are clear, one needs to know the definition of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). In straightforward terms, “heart failure” means that the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should. This means the heart must work harder and harder, but has less and less effect. Without enough power to circulate the blood out of the heart and through the body, the heart can’t provide the body with the right amount of oxygen it needs and blood “backs-up” in the veins and lungs causing other changes to occur, making the heart even weaker. As a result, fluid begins to build up in the lungs or other parts of the body because the heart does not pump as well as it should. The blood is no longer oxygen-rich, which is what help keeps the body healthy and strong. CHF starts slowly and gets worse over time.
What Causes CHF?
Some of the causes of CHF could be heart attack, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Other factors may also cause CHF such as heart valve problems, a heart infection or heart muscle disease, also known as Cardiomyopathy. Obesity or family history of heart disease are also factors that could cause CHF. Lung disease, drugs and alcohol, and medicines like chemotherapy may cause CHF. Diabetes is also a risk factor for heart disease and may make CHF worse. Other causes of CHF including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, inflammation of the heart muscle, and non-cardiac disorders such as thyroid problems or anemia.
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure
Knowing what Congestive Heart Failure consists of is important. The question asked after acquiring this knowledge is: What are the symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure? A key to keeping a healthy heart is being observant of the signs your heart is showing you. While heart failure most often affects older people who may already have hearts weakened by age-related illnesses, it can affect people of any age. In order to be diagnosed by a doctor, usually symptoms will occur to let you know there is a problem. Some symptoms of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and weakness. Others are symptoms to do with swelling of the legs, feet and ankles, and weight gain. Chronic cough (usually dry or hacking, especially when lying down) is a persistent sign of CHF. Other indications of CHF are lack of appetite or nausea, irregular or rapid heartbeat, confusion and sleepiness, as well as wheezing similar to asthma. The important thing to remember is to pay attention to the symptoms if they appear.