May 98
Congestive Heart
Failure |
| First,
it is important to understand that congestive heart failure (CHF) is not a heart attack or
a specific disease. |
First, it is important to understand that congestive
heart failure (CHF) is not a heart attack or a specific disease. Nor does it mean that
your heart has stopped or is about to stop. It also does not mean that you are dying. Many
patients can lead normal, active lives.
CHF is a condition that basically describes a person with a weakened
heart. The heart muscle can become weakened for a number of reasons, including:
 Heart attack/coronary artery disease |
Faulty heart valves |
| High blood pressure |
Infections of the heart muscle or valves |
When the heart is weakened, it will pump less blood than normal. All of the body’s
internal organs depend on a strong supply of blood to function properly. The kidneys
respond to CHF by slowing the rate at which fluids are filtered out of the bloodstream.
That excess fluid causes many of the classic symptoms of CHF. One of the most frightening
is called “pulmonary edema” in which excess fluid accumulates in the lungs. This
fluid congestion is the “C” in CHF.
Unlike a heart attack, CHF does not cause pain. It is a gradual process that can be
signaled by the following symptoms:
| Feeling tired |
Swollen ankles or lower back |
| Shortness of breath |
Coughing
or wheezing (especially at night) |
| Sudden weight gain |
Decreased
urination in the day and increased at night |
Although CHF is not a “curable” condition,
symptoms can be controlled by:
- Lowering your intake of salt and sodium
|
|
- Controlling your blood pressure
|
- Saying no to alcohol and tobacco
|
- Taking your medicine in the amount and frequency your doctor
directs
|
- Reducing the stress in your life
|
- Exercising (some CHF patients can even jog)
|
- Keeping daily track of your weight
|
If you are concerned about your blood pressure,
contact your physician. If you need a physician, call 1-888-749-DrDr or click here.
|
