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Congestive Heart Failure Information

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Blood is responsible for delivering oxygen throughout your body. So when your blood flow becomes impaired, your tissues don't get the oxygen they need. Your body tries to compensate for the shortfall by increasing your breathing rate to get more oxygen into your blood. This is one reason for shortness of breath, a common CHF symptom. But breathing harder doesn't help because your heart can't move blood around your body very well.

That brings up another problem associated with CHE When your heart pumps inefficiently, it can't pump well enough to power your blood's return trip from your tissues. Instead, blood backs up in your veins and collects in your tissues, a process known as congestion. (This is the "congestive" in congestive heart failure.) Blood collects in your lungs, further aggravating shortness of breath and possibly causing a persistent cough. Fluid also pools in areas farthest from your heart, especially in your ankles and feet. This is why swollen ankles are a common CHF symptom.

Impaired blood flow also affects your kidneys. As circulation becomes sluggish, your kidneys can't eliminate excess fluid as they should. The built-up fluid increases congestion and aggravates swelling.

In addition to shortness of breath, fluid retention, and swelling, CHF can cause an irregular heartbeat by interfering with your heart's electrical circuitry. An irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can be serious and should be monitored by a doctor.

Despite its severity, CHF isn't all that well-known. It certainly hasn't gotten the same publicity as coronary heart disease. Yet this condition is surprisingly common. By one estimate, it affects some five million Americans. Most of these people are over age 75, the population for which CHF risk is highest. The condition is almost unheard of in people under age 45.

CHF most often occurs because of damaged heart valves. Normally, a valve momentarily closes between pumps in order to prevent the blood from flowing backward. When the valve is damaged, it doesn't close properly, and the blood doesn't circulate through the heart efficiently. This leads to congestion. Other common reasons for the development of CHF are functional flaws within the heart caused by previous heart attacks, birth defects, or infections. Atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the hardening and narrowing of the arteries, can playa central role in worsening any of these conditions and can cause CHF.

Atherosclerosis also elevates blood pressure. And high blood pressure contributes to CHF by making the heart work harder than normal. In fact, about three-quarters of people who develop CHF have high blood pressure.

Other factors can raise your risk of developing CHF These include a high salt intake, certain nutritional deficiencies, kidney or liver disease, and emotional stress.

Treatment for CHF depends on the seriousness of the condition. If you have only mild to moderate symptoms, you may be able to manage them with home care under an M.D.'s supervision. But for more severe CHF, there is no substitute for aggressive treatment with mainstream medications, says naturopath Donald Brown, N.D., professor of herbal medicine at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. If you've been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, you should definitely be under an M.D.'s care. And you should stick with any treatment program that your doctor prescribes.

That said, certain natural and alternative remedies may enhance the effectiveness of any therapies your doctor recommends. Here's what the experts say can help.

Congestive Heart Failure Information

Congestive heart disease is also called congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac failure, or heart failure. These names can be misleading, since they seem to indicate that the heart has totally failed and that death is imminent. This is not the case. Congestive heart disease is nearly always a chronic, long-term condition, although it does sometimes develop suddenly.

How Common Is Congestive Heart Disease?

Of 100 people between the ages of 27 and 74, approximately 2 have congestive heart disease. That means about 6 million people in the U.S. are affected by the disease. After age 74, congestive heart disease becomes more common. It is said to be the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens.

Causes of Congestive Heart Disease

Congestive heart disease has many causes. They include, but are not limited to, the following causes:

* Weakening of the heart muscle due to viral infections. The weakness may also be caused by toxins such as alcohol abuse.

* Weakening of the heart muscle by coronary artery disease that has led to heart attacks.

* Weakening of the heart muscle by heart valve disease that involves large amounts of blood leakage.

* Heart muscle stiffness caused by a blocked heart valve.

* Uncontrolled high blood pressure, also called hypertension.

* High levels of the thyroid hormone.

* Excessive use of amphetamines ("speed").

Symptoms of Congestive Heart Disease

Either side of the heart muscle may weaken and cause congestive heart disease. The symptoms of congestive heart disease depend on the side of the heart that is affected. They can include these:

* asthma that can be attributed to the heart

* blood pooling in the body's overall circulation

* blood pooling in the liver's circulation

* enlargement of the heart

* shortness of breath

* skin color that appears bluish or dusky

* swelling of the body, especially the extremities

Congestive Heart Disease Risk Factors

As is true with most heart disease, family history is a major risk factor for congestive heart disease. Genetics cannot easily be altered. Age is a second risk factor that cannot be changed. Congestive heart disease is particularly prevalent among older people.

Aside from those two, however, risk factors can and should be addressed. Here are 7 risk factors for congestive heart disease that you may want to discuss with your health care provider.

1. High blood pressure: This is the highest risk factor for congestive heart disease! Men with uncontrolled high blood pressure are twice as likely as those with normal blood pressure to suffer congestive heart disease. If a woman has uncontrolled high blood pressure, she is three times as likely as women with normal blood pressure to develop congestive heart disease.

2. Heart Attacks: This is the second highest risk factor for congestive heart disease. Those who have had heart attacks that resulted in damage to the heart muscle, and scarring of the muscle tissue, have increased risks of experiencing congestive heart disease.

3. High Cholesterol: Showing high levels of cholesterol, particularly when levels of HDL are low, is listed as another risk factor for congestive heart disease.

4. Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for developing congestive heart disease.

5. Obesity: Men and women who are overweight unnecessarily increase their risks of experiencing congestive heart disease. The heart must work harder when the body is not at a healthy weight, and can begin to lose its ability to deliver blood efficiently.

6. Prolonged Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle, with little exercise, puts people at risk for congestive heart disease, especially as they increase in age. The heart needs cardiovascular exercise to remain strong and able to function well.

7. Smoking: Smoking increases the heart's workload. It also affects the lungs. This is a risk for congestive heart disease that anyone can eliminate.

CAUTION: Please see your doctor if you have reason to think you may have one or more of the risk factors or symptoms of congestive heart disease. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only.

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About Author

Both Franchis & Anna Hart are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Franchis has sinced written about articles on various topics from Japan Car, Supplements and Health. Read out for . Check out. Franchis's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.

Anna Hart has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Backpain and Acid Reflux. © 2007, Anna Hart. Anna's mother-in-law suffered from congestive heart disease. In addition, being married to a man who suffers from heart disease, Anna brings to her writing years of experience and research. She invites you to read more of her. Anna Hart's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.

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