Congestive Heart Failure Research Paper

The prevalence of congestive heart failure is on the increase both in the United States and all over the world, and it is the leading cause of hospitalization in the elderly population. Congestive heart failure is a progressive disease generally seen in the elderly, which if not properly managed, can lead to repeated hospital admissions or death. Heart failure means that the heart muscle is weakened. A weakened heart muscle may not be strong enough to pump an adequate amount of blood out of its chambers. To compensate for its diminished pumping capacity, the heart may enlarge. Commonly, the heart's pumping inefficiency causes a buildup of blood in the

CHF can be caused by many different reasons. Sometimes CHF can be a heart defect or can be caused by unhealthy lifestyles. “CHF is an ongoing condition in which the heart muscle is weakened and can’t pump as well as it normally does” (Congestive Heart Failure). When the heart becomes too weak to continue to pump blood throughout the body, it is called Congestive Heart Failure. When CHF first

After a period of time, the heart muscles of the left ventricle begin to weaken. The weakening of the left ventricle will lead to decreased empting of the heart (systolic heart failure) which results in decreased cardiac output again. Since the left ventricle does not empty completely, blood begins to back up into the left atrium and then to the pulmonary circulation thus resulting in pulmonary congestion and dyspnea (Story 2012, 104). If left untreated, the blood will back up and affect the right side of the heart causing biventricular heart failure (both right and left heart failure). In right sided heart failure, the right ventricle weakens and cannot empty completely. This incomplete emptying causes blood to back up into the systemic circulation causing systemic edema (Lewis et al. 2014, 771).

3) Is her history of rheumatic fever relevant to her current symptoms? Explain. Rheumatic fever caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria may cause damage to heart tissues including valves. Overtime, congestive heart failure may have developed. However, the pulmonary semilunar valve seems to be the issue in this case study, whereas rheumatic fever normally affects left heart tissue.

Congestive Heart Failure is when the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. It does not mean the heart has stopped working. The blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. This means; the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming more stiff and thickened. This only keeps the blood moving for a short while. The heart muscle walls weaken and are unable to pump as strongly. This makes the kidneys respond by causing the body to retain fluid and sodium. When the body builds up with fluids, it becomes congested. Many conditions can cause heart

In left-sided congestive heart failure the left ventricle weakens and cannot empty which results in decreased cardiac output to the system which in turn leads to pressure elevation in the left atrium and pulmonary vessels and capillaries, the ensuing decreased renal blood flow stimulates rennin-angiotensin and aldosterone secretion the resulting high pressure in the pulmonary capillaries leads to the exudation of fluid into the pulmonary interstitial tissue and alveoli which causes pulmonary congestion or edema. In right-sided congestive heart failure the right ventricle weakens and cannot empty which also results in decreased cardiac output and the secretion of rennin-angiotensin and aldosterone however, this leads to a backup of blood into the systemic circulation via the venae cavae. The increased venous pressure results in edema in the legs, liver and abdominal organs. (Tsai 2005)

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a syndrome that occurs when the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the tissues metabolic and oxygen needs. As a result, intravascular/ interstitial volume overload and poor tissue perfusion occurs. An individual with heart failure experiences reduced exercise tolerance, a reduced quality of life and shortened life span. The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease (CAD). The incidence of heart failure increases with age. Approximately 1% of people over the age of 50 and 10% of people over the age of 80 experience heart failure. The prognosis depends on underlying cause and response to treatment. Heart failure may be classified according to the side of the heart affected.

The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation defines heart failure (HF) as “a common condition that develops after the heart becomes damaged or weakened by diseases of the heart including heart attacks and other medical conditions. (Heart Failure, 2013)” HF is a chronic medical condition causing the body’s heart to weaken and become unable to pump and supply enough blood and nutrients to the meet the body’s needs. There are four different types of HF: left-side, right-side, systolic and diastolic heart failure (Heart Failure, 2015). Left-side heart failure causes shortness of breath due to fluid backing up in the lungs. Right-side heart failure causes fluid retention in abdomen, legs and feet causing swelling. Systolic heart failure is when the left ventricle can’t contract fast enough, indicating a pumping issue and diastolic heart failure is when the left ventricle can’t relax enough to fill properly, indicating a filling problem (Heart Failure, 2015). These abnormalities in heart function can result a homeostatic imbalance in the kidneys responding by causing the body to retain fluid and salt. The term congestive heart failure (CHF) is used when the heart failure has worsened causing a backup of fluid and congesting extremities and other organs (Heart Failure, 2015). Often, you can control heart failure by taking medicine, changing your lifestyle, and treating the condition that caused it but there is no cure at this time.

Congestive heart failure is an older name for heart failure. Congestive heart failure takes place when the heart is unable to maintain an adequate circulation of blood in the bodily tissues or to pump out the venous blood returned to it by the veins (Merriam-Webster). The heart is split into two distinct pumping structures, the right side of the heart and the left side of the heart. Appropriate cardiac performance involves each ventricle to extract even quantities of blood over intervals. If the volume of blood reimbursed to the heart develops more than both ventricles can manage, the heart can no longer be an efficient pump.

HCM happens when the heart muscle enlarges and thickens without an obvious cause. Usually the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, and septum thicken. The thickened areas create narrowing or blockages in the ventricles, making it harder for the heart to pump blood; however, in very few instances the heart actually contracts with much greater force causing an obstruction to the blood flow (CMUK, 2015). HCM also can cause stiffness of the ventricles, changes in the mitral valve, and cellular changes in the heart tissue.

In right sided heart failure, fluid builds up in the veins and tissues, causing swelling of the lower extremities and the abdomen. When body tissues fail to get the oxygen and the nutrients they require, they begin to lose their efficiency, causing increased dizziness and fatigue.

Heart failure is best defined as the heart’s inability to pump an ample supply of blood ultimately disrupting major bodily function. When there is heart failure occurring on the left side both the preceding and following regions of the heart will be affected. The left side of the heart is responsible for pumping blood systemically via the left ventricle. When the left ventricle fails this result in in inadequate amount of blood pumped systemically; in addition, since cardiac output has decreased, the blood will back up causing numerous other problems with the pulmonary system such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). An increase in the muscles mass of the heart or compromised valves can limit the blood flow into and out of the heart and ultimately cause this heart failure. When this increase in muscles mass is specifically of the left ventricle, this is known as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). LHF is very prominent and the best medication to prevent this chronic heart failure is exercise. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is secondary to left-sided heart failure; therefore, PAH can help identify LHF

It is a disease of the heart muscle that is characterized by an enlarged heart that alters its ability to function properly. DCM is a primary myocardial disease characterized by cardiac chamber enlargement, arrhythmias, and diminished cardiac contractility (Case et., al 2011). The upper and lower chambers of the heart become enlarged, with usually one side being more severe than the other. Specifically, when the lower chamber becomes enlarged, its ability to pump blood out of the lungs and body deteriorates. If this happens, fluid begins to fill the lungs and the heart becomes more overloaded which then can lead to CHF ( PetMD).

A patient with heart failure would most likely be fluid overloaded in their vasculature (blood stream).

In obstructive cardiomyopathy , the thickened muscle makes the inside of the left ventricle smaller, so it holds less blood. The walls of the ventricle may stiffen, and as a result, the ventricle is less able to relax and fill with blood. This then raises the blood pressure in both the ventricles and the blood vessels which run through the lungs. The damaged tissue may then also be unable to react to electrical impulses which will then effect the functioning of the heart in the way in which it pumps blood around the body. Some who have HCM may not feel any symptoms where as some will have severe symptoms causing concern. Those who do not show symptoms are at greater risk as it is often not