Heart Failure: Introduction and Types
INTRODUCTION OF HEART FAILURE
Heart failure is also called cardiac failure. It is a condition where heart fails to supply sufficient amount of blood. This condition of insufficient blood supply occurs in all parts of the body. There may be the involvement of left ventricle or right ventricle or both. Heart failure can be of acute and chronic type.
TYPES OF HEART FAILURE
Heart failure can be of various types. They are as follows:
a) Acute heart failure
- This type of heart failure occurs suddenly and rapidly.
- This heart failure shows signs and symptoms of abnormal heart functions.
- Symptoms seem severe initially.
- However, symptoms are observed for short period.
- Improved conditions can be achieved rapidly but it requires treatment on time.
b) Chronic heart failure
- In this type of heart failure, symptoms appear slowly over period of time.
- Also, the conditions become worst gradually.
c) Congestive heart failure
- It is the type of heart failure that results by accumulation of fluid in lungs and other tissues.
- Blood remains in heart as it becomes unable to pump blood through aorta.
- This condition lead to the dilation of the chambers which cause accumulation of blood in veins called vascular congestion.
- There is occurrence of fluid retention and pulmonary edema also.
VARIOUS CAUSES OF HEART FAILURE
Heart failure is caused by various reasons. Some of the reasons are listed here below:
- Arrhythmia
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Lung disorders
- Anemia
- Congenital heart diseases
- Coronary artery disease
- Defective heart valves
- Cardiomyopathy (cardiac muscle disease)
- Myocarditis(inflammation of heart muscle)
- Genetic causes
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Previous heart attack
- Infections(viruses)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE HEART FAILURE
Signs and symptoms are similar to chronic heart failure but appears suddenly and severely. Some other signs and symptoms are:
i) Fluid accumulates in lungs no sooner heart fails to pump blood. This causes pulmonary edema.
ii) Shortness of breath occurs immediately.
iii) Cough with pink, foamy mucus.
iv) Heart palpitations.
v) Sudden death results if not treated immediately.
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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC HEART FAILURE
i) Loss of appetite
ii) Cough
iii) Chest pain developed by myocardial infarction
iv) Rapid and irregular heart beat
v) Nausea and vomiting
vi) Fluid retention and weight gain
vii) Shortness of breathing
viii) Fatigue and weakness
OTHER TYPES OF HEART FAILURE
a) Systolic heart failure
- If heart ability to contract decrease, it occurs.
- Right, left or both heart parts is involved.
- Valvular defect and muscular weakness are the reasons.
- Blood cannot be pumped forcely though the ventricles are filled with blood.
- Ejection fraction is reduced by 20%.
- Due to this, blood amount decreases to the lungs and to the other parts.
- This cause accumulation of blood in ventricle more.
- As a result later on, accumulation starts in lungs or systemic veins or both.
- Enlargement of ventricle occurs in this type.
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b) Diastolic heart failure
- Problem in relaxation of ventricle properly is the main cause.
- Reason for this is stiffening of cardiac muscle.
- Results in delay in ventricular filling and cardiac output.
c) Right sided heart failure
- Reason is the loss in pumping action of right side of the heart.
- Right ventricle cannot pump properly.
- Accumulation of blood occurs in right atrium and blood vessels.
- As a result, edema occurs in different parts of the body.
- Legs, feet, ankles, abdomen are the major body sites.
d) Left sided heart failure
- Left side of the heart if cannot pump properly, it occurs.
- Results in the congestion of lungs.
Image source: verywellhealth
SOME OTHER TYPES OF HEART FAILURE
a) Compensated heart failure
- Occurs with adequate cardiac output.
- Heart maintains the cardiac output through various compensatory mechanisms.
- Increase in heart rate, ventricular hypertrophy, increase in ventricular contraction are some.
- Symptoms remain stable here.
- Also, there is no fluid retention and pulmonary edema.
- In most of the patient cases, these mechanisms cannot even fulfill the demand.
- Thus, decompensated heart failure occurs.
b) Decompensated heart failure
- Occurs due to inadequate cardiac output.
- Deterioration and sudden and drastic changes in heart functions.
- Worsens the condition of the heart more.
- Finally death may result from it.
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REFERENCES:
i) https://www.genesiscare.com/au/condition/cardiovascular-disease/heart-failure/
ii) https://www.emedicinehealth.com/congestive_heart_failure/article_em.htm
iii) https://www.verywellhealth.com/congestive-heart-failure-vs-heart-failure-5212245