It ’ s estimated that 5 million Americans have Congestive Heart Failure ( CHF ), a chronic and often undiagnosed medical condition in which the heart becomes weak and unable to pump blood effectively throughout the body . Although the words “ heart failure ” sounds alarming , it does not mean your heart has stopped beating or is about to . It means your heart is unable to pump blood the way it should , to deliver oxygen-rich blood to your body or remove waste from it . By not being able to effectively remove waste from the body , fluids build up in the lungs and other body tissues ( including the abdomen , feet , ankles and legs ). CHF is often chronic , which means it can be managed and treated , but not cured . Day-to-day activities such as walking , climbing a flight of stairs or grocery shopping can be difficult because you can , among other things , get short of breath and feel tired .
There are several different causes of CHF . Some risk factors are high blood pressure , coronary artery disease , irregular heartbeat , heart valve disease , congenital heart defects ( defects you are born with ), heart muscle disorder , previous heart attack ( s ), diabetes , alcohol and drug abuse .
A patient may go years without visible symptoms of CHF , and the symptoms typically worsen as you age . As the heart weakens , it pumps less blood . CHF develops slowly as you age because the heart itself tries to counteract its weakness by enlarging itself and pumping faster , attempting to keep the same amount of blood moving through the heart . However , this is only temporary . The heart eventually tires and cannot pump enough blood to meet the body ’ s requirement . Some symptoms of CHF include shortness of breath , feeling weak and / or tired , fatigue , swelling of the ankles , feet or legs , dizzy spells that can lead to decreased attention span and memory loss , frequent urination at night , an irregular or fast pulse , and weight gain from excessive fluid .
To see why your heart has weakened , a physician will perform an examination , ask questions and possibly do some tests . The physician is looking for signs and symptoms of CHF as well as any underlying condition that may have caused your heart to weaken . The physician will use a stethoscope to listen for an irregular or quick heartbeat , and will listen to your chest for sounds of fluid around your lungs or the distinct sounds of a faulty heart valve . Your physician may order a chest x-ray to see if your heart is enlarged and detect any fluid around the lungs . An EKG ( electrocardiogram ) can be used to check for irregular heartbeats or prior heart attack . Echocardiography ( sonography of the heart ) can see the structure and movement of your heart . Other tests such as stress tests , holter monitor , nuclear scans and cardiac cath can be used as well .
Your physician uses the information learned to develop a treatment plan . The treatment for CHF depends on the cause and severity of your condition . It ’ s best treated when the cause of your CHF is identified . The treatment plan is designed to relieve some of your symptoms and may include medications to help your heart work better , rest periods during the day , dietary changes to reduce the amount of sodium you ingest , physical activity as prescribed by your doctor , lifestyle changes such as limiting how much alcohol you drink , quitting smoking , controlling your high blood pressure , diabetes and cholesterol levels , and weighing yourself daily to watch for fluid buildup .
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , one person dies every 36 seconds in the U . S . from cardiovascular disease . About 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year — that ’ s 1 in every 4 deaths . This is because people are living longer . As baby boomers age , CHF rates will increase . CHF is the number one cause for hospital admission in the United States for people age 65 and older . The best treatment for CHF is prevention but it ’ s equally important for those who suffer from CHF to know they have options . People with CHF can lead happy , productive lives . It ’ s important for those suffering with CHF to include their families and friends , build a support network , make the lifestyle and dietary changes they need to , and frankly become active participants with their physicians in the management of their health . If you ’ re suffering from some of the signs and symptoms of CHF and have not been to a doctor recently , please call your primary care physician and set up an appointment .
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , one person dies every 36 seconds in the U . S . from cardiovascular disease . About 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year — that ’ s 1 in every 4 deaths .
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