Incidence Of Heart Failure

Each year, there is an estimated 15 million new cases of heart failure around the world. In the United States alone, there are around 500,000 new cases diagnosed yearly. Those in the U.S. who are presently in heart failure are even more in number. The unfortunate fact is these numbers continue to increase, especially when it comes to those over the age of 65. Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in older patients.

It remains alarming that the prognosis for chronic heart failure is still very poor. This finding is not excluding the several new advances that have been developed such as cardiac assist devices and drug therapy. Patients with mild heart failure have one year mortality figures that is around 10 percent, 15-30 percent for those with mild to moderate heart failure, and up to 50-60 percent for those who are diagnosed with severe heart failure. Generally, half of the individuals diagnosed with heart failure survive for 5 years, and those who survive more than 8-12 years is 20 percent.

Age And Heart Failure

Studies have shown that adults 67 years of age and older are able to survive after 6 years, but the numbers are very low. The findings have even been compared to the prognosis of most types of cancer—it has been suggested that the prognosis of heart failure may even be worse.

Gender And Heart Failure

Documentation has shown that over a decade ago, 25 percent of women and 20 percent of men lived for 6 years after being hospitalized due to congestive heart failure. A third did not survive a year. Studies have shown that women had better chances of surviving than men. However, only 20 percent of the women survived more than 8 to 12 years.

The Positive Effects Of Early Diagnosis And Treatment

Patients who were also diagnosed with high blood pressure or coronary heart disease had better chances of surviving longer. Early treatment and immediate care from healthcare professionals have helped delay the progression of heart disease in patients.

Today, the fatality rate for congestive heart failure remains high. Sudden death due to heart failure is considered a frequent incident in patients. Up to this date, there is still no known substantial improvement in the prognosis of heart failure cases. Physicians are still fighting to improve the prognosis of patients with heart failure. They are continuously investigating and implementing therapies recognized to reduce the morbidity and mortality in heart failure. Proposals have been made in efforts to enroll more patients—especially minorities and women who are underrepresented—in trials surrounding heart failure.

Goal Of Treatment

When considering treatment for heart failure, there are three main goals of treatment: first, to reduce the heart’s workload, second, to improve the function of the heart, and third, to regulate excess salt and water retention.

Surgery

The purpose of surgery is to halt further damage to the heart and help the heart function better. Main surgical procedures for heart failure are surgery of the ventricle and high risk conventional surgeries. Surgery of the ventricle includes heart transplant, LV reconstruction surgery, and implantable left ventricular assist device, or LVAD. High risk conventional surgeries include valve surgery and coronary artery bypass surgery.

A heart transplant replaces a diseased heart with a healthy donor organ. When the diseased heart is taken out, the back walls of the atria are left behind. Blood vessels are reconnected and blood runs through the new heart and rest of the body.

Surgery of the ventricle improves heart failure and symptoms such as chest pain as well as aids in the pumping function of the heart.

The implantable left ventricular assist device or LVAD helps the heart pump blood throughout the body.

Bypass surgery is considered the most common heart failure surgical procedure. This surgery involves grafting or bypassing blockages caused by coronary artery disease.

Valve surgery aims at preserving the natural make of the heart, improving the heart’s function, reducing symptoms, decreasing complications and risks, and improving survival.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy or CRT is a heart failure treatment that treats the delay in ventricle contractions. This treatment is often used in patients with advanced heart failure.

Treating heart failure could also mean treating underlying health problems. For instance, if a fast heart rhythm can be corrected or regulated, then other abnormalities of the heart may also be reversed. One should not mistake this as a cure, though, but rather a treatment that can dramatically reduce symptoms associated with heart failure and improve the longevity and quality of life.

Cardiac Rehabilitation For Heart Failure

After undergoing surgery or treatment, your doctor will most likely recommend that you continue treatment with cardiac rehabilitation. This often involves joining programs and making changes in your lifestyle. Cardiac rehab programs include specific exercise programs, educational programs, and emotional support.

The information in this article should not be made a substitution for advice from a healthcare professional.

These symptoms are often triggered by infections, increased intake of fluids or salt, fever, anemia, irregular heartbeats (also called arrhythmias), overactive thyroid gland or hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and blockage in the coronary arteries. The major triggering factors of the symptoms mentioned earlier are coronary artery disease, weakness of the heart muscle, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and disease of the heart valves.

Most of the symptoms mentioned just now are those that you may notice yourself. However, it is always important to see a healthcare professional when you suspect heart failure. Your healthcare provider can give you a physical examination and analyze your risk of having heart failure. Tests may reveal murmurs, abnormal lung sounds, abnormal heart sounds, enlarged liver, irregular or rapid heartbeat, ankle swelling, or distended neck veins. All these are hidden symptoms of heart failure you may not know about if it weren’t for physical examinations.

The tests surrounding heart failure include an ECG, chest x-ray, or an echocardiogram. The ECG is performed to search for any sign of a thickened heart muscle or enlarged heart chambers. A chest x-ray can reveal enlargement of the heart and accumulation of fluids in the lungs. Finally, an echocardiogram (commonly known as a heart ultrasound) can reveal enlargement of the heart chambers, weak pumping function, and leaky valves. Lab tests include blood chemistry, urinalysis, CBC, thyroid function tests, liver function tests, and B-type natriuretic peptide or BNP.

Although heart failure progresses gradually in some cases, symptoms may show suddenly in other cases. This is especially evident when the cause of heart failure is a heart attack. Symptoms can develop within a few days to over several months. They may even become steady for some time while still progressing gradually and silently. This makes the symptoms of heart failure quite difficult to catch and heart failure itself very difficult to diagnose. This is one good reason why one should get proper diagnosis from a professional.

Common complaints are feelings of exhaustion and weakness even when physical activity is rather mild. This is the case because the muscles are not receiving sufficient amounts of blood.

The “final symptom” of heart failure is when the heart can no longer pump normal amounts of blood into the body. As a result blood clots develop, break off, travel into the bloodstream and end up blocking an artery.

Other symptoms can be misdiagnosed because they are actually symptoms of other conditions that may have worsened heart failure in an individual. An example is in the case of depression. For proper treatment and prevention, consult with a healthcare professional.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure, or congestive heart failure (CHF) is a health condition that prevents the heart from distributing blood throughout the body in a normal or sufficient manner. Heart failure should be looked upon as a serious condition, as it is linked with an annual mortality rate of 10 percent and is the major cause of hospitalization in individuals over the age of 65.

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

Symptoms associated with heart failure are tiredness and fatigue, asthma, shortness of breath from physical activity or even while resting, swelling, enlargement of the heart, and blueness of the skin. Symptoms depend on which area of the heart is affected.

What are the causes of heart failure?

There are many causes for heart failure, not just one. The major causes of heart failure are hardening of the arteries and untreated high blood pressure. The list of causes continues with disease of the heart valves and a weakened heart muscle triggered by toxins and/or viral infections.

How is heart failure diagnosed?

Your doctor will first analyze your medical history, conduct a series of physical exams, and do final tests. Your medical history may include a history of other health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. You may also be asked if you smoke, drink alcohol, and take medications. A physical exam involves your doctor listening to your heart while searching for signs and underlying causes of heart failure or a weakened heart. Final tests include blood tests, B-type Natriuretic Peptide blood tests, chest X-rays, Echocardiogram, Ejection fraction, and Electrocardiogram.

What are treatments for heart failure?

The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms and slow down the development of the condition, decrease the amount of time spent in the hospital, and improve overall quality of life.

Drugs that treat heart failure include angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics and beta blockers. Surgery is another option in some cases, where the valve is repaired or replaced, coronary artery bypass surgery is conducted, or transplantation is performed.

What preventive measures can be taken?

To prevent heart failure, make lifestyle changes. Lower down your risk by quitting smoking, controlling your blood pressure, controlling diabetes, lowering your cholesterol, limiting your alcohol intake, and increasing healthy activity such as exercise, proper diet and getting enough rest. It’s always best to consult with a health care professional to get proper medical advice.