CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

📚 DEFINITION

Congestive heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump adequate blood, resulting in fluid congestion in the lungs and body tissues. ❤️

✴️TYPES

1. Left-sided HF: Blood backs up into lungs.

2. Right-sided HF: Blood backs up into body tissues.

3. Systolic HF: Problem in contraction (pumping).

4. Diastolic HF: Problem in relaxation (filling).

   
   

📢 CAUSES

• Coronary artery disease

• Hypertension

• Myocardial infarction

• Valvular heart disease

• Cardiomyopathy

• Congenital heart disease

• Arrhythmias

• Diabetes mellitus ❤️

🚫 CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)

• Fatigue and weakness

• Orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying flat)

• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

• Peripheral edema (swelling of legs and ankles)

• Weight gain due to fluid retention

• Cough with frothy sputum

• Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)

• Ascites (abdominal swelling)

• Jugular vein distention

👨🏻‍🔬 DIAGNOSIS EVALUATION

• Physical examination – Check edema, jugular vein distention, lung sounds.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – Detects heart rhythm abnormalities.

• Echocardiography – Evaluates heart structure and pumping function.

• Chest X-ray – Shows heart enlargement and lung congestion.

• B-type Natriuretic Peptide Test (BNP test) – Elevated levels indicate heart failure.

• Cardiac Catheterization – Assesses coronary artery blockage.

• Blood tests – Hemoglobin, electrolytes, kidney function.

👨🏻‍⚕️ TREATMENT

• M – Morphine - Relieves severe chest pain and anxiety.

• O – Oxygen therapy-Improves oxygen supply to the heart and tissues.

• N – Nitroglycerin-Dilates coronary arteries and reduces cardiac workload.

• A – Aspirin-Prevents platelet aggregation and clot formation.

• T – Thrombolytic drugs- Dissolve blood clots in coronary arteries.

• A – Anticoagulant drugs - Prevent further clot formation.

• S – Stool softeners - Prevent straining during defecation (which increases cardiac workload).

• S – Sedatives - Reduce anxiety and restlessness.

  
  

Other Treatment

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) – Improve heart function and reduce BP.

• Vasodilators – Reduce workload on the heart.

• IV fluids (if needed).

• Antiemetic Drugs – Prevent nausea and vomiting.

• Basic Life Support (BLS).

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

• Coronary Angioplasty.

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).