The heart isn’t pumping as well as it should, according to the definition of heart failure. Congestive heart failure, which is occasionally used synonymously, is a particular form of heart failure that demands immediate medical attention.
Your heart’s pumping action is essential to your body because it delivers blood that is enriched in nutrients and oxygen to the cells. When the cells are properly fueled, the body can function appropriately. When the weakened heart is unable to adequately pump blood to the cells, cardiac failure results. Some people consequently experience coughing, breathlessness, and tiredness.
This article explains more about the stages of heart failure, the types of heart failure, the symptoms, etc.
What Exactly Is Heart Failure?
Heart failure results from the heart muscle’s inability to pump enough blood to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen. The heart initially makes an effort to make up for this by:
- Enlarging – To keep up with the need to pump more blood, the heart extends to contract more forcefully. The heart enlarges as a result over time.
- Developing muscle mass – The more giant cardiac contracting cells cause the increase in muscle mass. This allows the heart to pump more vigorously.
- Pumping faster – The output of the heart is boosted as a result.
The body also makes various attempts to make up for it:
- The blood arteries narrow to maintain blood pressure to compensate for the heart’s diminished strength.
- Blood is redirected away from the heart, brain, and less crucial tissues and organs (such as the kidneys).
These band-aid solutions only cover up the heart failure cause; they do not address it. Heart failure persists and gets worse until these compensatory mechanisms stop functioning.
A person eventually feels exhaustion, breathing issues, or other symptoms that would typically necessitate a trip to the doctor as the heart and body simply cannot keep up.
Some people may not become aware of their problem until years after their heart starts to deteriorate, possibly due to the body’s compensatory processes.
Difference Between Heart Attack And Heart failure
Heart illness comes in the form of both heart attacks and heart failure. They stem from a few typical reasons. But they also vary in significant ways.
Most heart attacks occur suddenly when a blood vessel leading to the heart narrows and stops blood flow. The heart muscles begin to deteriorate without oxygen. On the other hand, heart failure typically comes on gradually. As a result, the heart’s muscle weakens and struggles to pump blood to your body’s cells. This chronic ailment deteriorates with time.
Causes
Usually, when a portion of the plaque comes off, you experience a heart attack. The formation of a blood clot then stops the blood flow. Even if you don’t have arterial hardening, a coronary artery spasm occasionally causes a heart attack. In extremely rare cases, a tear in the coronary artery’s walls may induce a heart attack.
If your heart works harder over time to force blood through a constrained or obstructed passage, it will weaken. If it doesn’t receive enough blood, it may begin to fail. Other disorders can also result in heart failure, like Heart valve disease, Congenital heart defects, Infections, etc.
Symptoms
Everybody experiences a heart attack differently. Some heart attack symptoms consist of the following:
- Pain in the center of the chest
- Pain in your upper body
- Trouble breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lightheadedness
In case of heart failure, you may experience one of these common symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or coughing
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Tiredness
- Swelling
Treatments
Heart attacks require immediate medical attention. Even if you merely think you might be experiencing one, call 911. To stop further blood clots, paramedics will likely administer aspirin, a blood thinner, nitroglycerin, and a blood flow aid. In severe cases, coronary artery bypass surgery may be recommended by your doctor.
Many of the same medications prescribed for heart attacks are also used for heart failure. You’ll frequently take diuretic medications to eliminate surplus water in case of heart failure. Making lifestyle adjustments like giving up smoking, lowering weight, consuming less salt, and exercising can also help to ease the strain on your heart.
What Are The Stages Of Heart Failure?
Stages A, B, C, and D are the four stages of heart failure, from a high risk of developing heart failure to severe heart failure.
Stage A
Heart failure is not yet seen in Stage A. If you have a history of heart failure in your family, you are at a high risk of getting heart failure. Some of the causes of stage A heart failure are,
- hypertension
- coronary artery disease
- diabetes
- metabolic syndrome
- family history of cardiomyopathy
- rheumatic fever
- alcohol abuse
- drugs
Stage B
Heart failure in Stage B is referred to as silent or asymptomatic. It indicates that even if you have been given a systolic left ventricular dysfunction diagnosis, you have never had heart failure symptoms. An echocardiogram (echo) typically reveals an ejection fraction (EF) of 40% or less in patients with Stage B heart failure. People who suffer heart failure and reduced EF (HF rEF) for any reason fall under this category.
Stage C
Heart failure has been diagnosed in patients with stage C heart failure, and they are presently experiencing or have recently had sure signs and symptoms. Heart failure may manifest in a variety of ways. Some of the stage C heart failure symptoms are:
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen
Stage D
Advanced stage D heart failure symptoms that do not improve with treatment are present in Stage D patients. The last stage of cardiac failure is this. They most likely experience symptoms that fall into the NYHA classes three to four, meaning they manifest during periods of rest or light activity.
Can Heart Failure Be Reversible?
If heart failure is not treated, it usually gets worse over time. On the other hand, medical therapy has been demonstrated in studies to strengthen the heart. Optimizing the potent medical therapy established over the past 40 years is the key to genuinely reversing heart failure.
To reverse heart failure, employ the following methods.
Medication
More extraordinary reversals of your heart failure symptoms can be achieved by combining medicine, careful blood pressure and blood sugar control, and heart-healthy lifestyle choices.
Based on the type of heart failure you have, how severe it is, and the potential adverse effects of treatment, you and your cardiologist will decide on the best course of action for you. They will also go over the proper amount and frequency of medication administration.
Beta Blockers
In persons with chronic HFrEF, three beta-blockers—Coreg (carvedilol), Toprol (metoprolol succinate), and Zebeta (bisoprolol)—are successful in lowering symptoms, readmissions, and death.
Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers
Through a collection of interconnected hormones that have an effect on one another and collaborate with the kidneys to control blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin system does so. In heart failure, medications that influence this system may be used.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Angiotensin can weaken the heart’s capacity to pump blood adequately throughout the body over time. Angiotensin, an enzyme that constricts cardiac arteries and makes the heart work harder, is blocked by ACE inhibitors. Additionally, they enlarge blood arteries, which improves heart blood flow.
Angiotensin II Blockers
Angiotensin II cannot bind to angiotensin II receptors when taken with ARBs, which function similarly to ACE inhibitors. This lessens the risk of heart, blood vessel, and kidney damage and lowers blood pressure. These medications have several adverse effects, including angioedema, dizziness, and a spike in blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia).
Surgery
Surgical procedures like heart transplantation can significantly increase your quality of life and even lengthen your lifespan when paired with a heart-healthy lifestyle. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can help your left ventricle contract more normally if the left side of your heart is injured or not pumping as it should. In more difficult situations, a mechanical pump called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) that keeps the heart’s ability to pump blood can help relieve heart failure symptoms.
Types Of Treatment For Heart Failure
Stage A treatment
- Regular exercise
- Quit smoking
- Medication
- Low-sodium diet
- Precautions against high cholesterol
- Not drinking alcohol or taking drugs
Stage B treatment
- Treatments listed in Stage A
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
- Beta-blocker
- Aldosterone antagonist
- SGLT2 inhibitor medication
- Possible surgery
Stage C treatment
- Treatments listed in Stages A and B
- Combination of ACE-I and ARB
- Hydralazine/nitrate combination
- Medications that slow the heart rate
- A diuretic may be prescribed
- Restrict sodium in your diet
- Possible cardiac resynchronization therapy
- Possible implantable cardiac defibrillator therapy
Stage D treatment
- Treatments listed in Stages A, B and C
- Advanced treatment options, including heart transplant, ventricular assist devices, heart surgery, etc
Conclusion
Many risk factors and underlying medical issues are similar between heart attack and heart failure. When a portion of the heart loses blood flow entirely or partially, then it is a heart attack. When the heart cannot efficiently pump enough blood to the various areas of the body, heart failure results. The methods for preventing heart attacks and heart failure are similar, even though they have different causes, symptoms, and treatments. The key ones are maintaining a good diet, exercising frequently, and taking care of underlying medical concerns.