Heart failure

Definition

Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs for oxygen and nutrients. This can occur due to various reasons, such as weakened heart muscles or stiffening of the heart walls. It can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs and other tissues, causing symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. The condition is closely related to blood pressure alterations and coronary artery disease, which can significantly contribute to its development and progression.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Heart failure can be categorized into two main types: systolic heart failure, where the heart can't contract effectively, and diastolic heart failure, where the heart has trouble relaxing and filling with blood.
2. Common causes of heart failure include coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and previous heart attacks.
3. Symptoms of heart failure can vary but commonly include breathlessness during activity or at rest, persistent coughing or wheezing, swelling in the legs or abdomen, and extreme fatigue.
4. Management of heart failure often involves lifestyle changes, medications such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers, and in some cases, surgical interventions like implantable devices or heart transplants.
5. Heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization among older adults and significantly impacts quality of life, requiring ongoing management and monitoring.

Review Questions

• How does hypertension contribute to the development of heart failure?
  • Hypertension significantly increases the workload on the heart as it has to pump against higher pressure in the arteries. Over time, this excessive strain can lead to the thickening of the heart muscle (hypertrophy) or even cause it to weaken. As a result, the heart may become less effective at pumping blood, ultimately leading to heart failure.
• What is the relationship between coronary artery disease and heart failure?
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) narrows the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle, which can lead to ischemia. Ischemia can cause damage to the heart muscle, resulting in myocardial infarction. When part of the heart muscle is compromised due to reduced blood flow from CAD or a heart attack, it may not function properly, leading to heart failure as the overall capacity of the heart to pump blood is diminished.
• Evaluate how understanding ejection fraction can aid in assessing the severity of heart failure.
  • Ejection fraction (EF) is a critical measurement in determining how well the heart is functioning. In patients with heart failure, a reduced EF indicates that the heart's ability to pump blood is impaired. By evaluating EF along with clinical symptoms and other diagnostic tools, healthcare providers can assess the severity of heart failure and guide treatment decisions effectively. This understanding helps tailor interventions based on whether a patient has preserved or reduced EF, which can lead to different management strategies.

Related terms

Hypertension: A condition characterized by elevated blood pressure, which can lead to increased workload on the heart and contribute to heart failure.

Ischemia:

A condition where there is insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, often due to narrowed coronary arteries, which can result in myocardial infarction and subsequently heart failure.

Ejection Fraction: A measurement of the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart's left ventricle with each contraction; a reduced ejection fraction is often a sign of heart failure.