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What Is Heart Failure? What Causes Heart Failure?

The test may also reveal any damage to the heart from a heart attack. Heart attacks are often the underlying cause of heart failure. *An echocardiogram - this is an ultrasound scan that checks the pumping action of the patient"s heart. This test also helps distinguish systolic heart failure from diastolic heart failure (the heart is stiff and does not fill properly). Sound waves are used to create a video image of the patient"s heart, which helps the doctor see how well the heart is pumping. The doctor measures the percentage of blood pumped out of the patient"s left ventricle (the main pumping chamber) with each heartbeat - this measurement is call the ejection fraction. An ejection fraction is a crucial measurement which determines how well the heart is pumping. It is used to help classify heart failure and determine the best treatment. A healthy heart pumps out approximately 60% of the blood that fills the ventricle with each beat - a healthy heart has an ejection factor of 60%. The doctor may also carry out the following additional tests: *Stress test - the aim here is to stress the heart and study it. The patient may have to use a treadmill or exercise machine, or take a medication that stresses the heart. Sometimes nuclear medicine or echocardiographic techniques are used to take pictures of the heart to find out whether there are any blockages in the heart arteries - such a blockage could be causing the heart failure. An oxygen uptake stress test will determine how well the patient"s body is making up for his/her condition. *Cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography) scan - they can measure ejection fraction as well as the heart arteries and valves. They can also determine whether the patient had a heart attack. These scans are also useful in seeking out unusual heart failure causes. *Angiogram (coronary catheterization) - a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is introduced into a blood vessel until it goes through the aorta into the patient"s coronary arteries. The catheter usually enters the body at the groin or arm. A dye is injected through the catheter into the arteries. This dye stands out on images created by an X-ray and helps doctors detect coronary artery disease (arteries to the heart that have narrowed) - another cause of heart failure. What is the treatment for heart failure? Damage to the heart"s pumping action caused by heart failure cannot be repaired. Nevertheless, current treatments can significantly improve the quality of life of the patient by keeping the condition under control and helping relieve many of the symptoms. Treatment also focuses on treating any conditions that may be causing the heart failure, which in turn lessens the burden on the heart. A GP or cardiologist will discuss treatments options with the patient and suggest the best choices, depending on individual circumstances. Some of the treatments include: *Stem cell therapy Stem cell therapy is still in its initial stages regarding heart failure. However, studies have provided promising results so far, as this article reveals. Long-term gene therapy resulted in improved cardiac function and reversed deterioration of the heart in rats with heart failure, according to a study carried out by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University"s Center for Translational Medicine. *Medications Patients aged 80 or more who suffer from a certain type of heart failure do not appear to benefit from most commonly prescribed heart medications, according to a study conducted at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute - these patients have heart failure but an ejection fraction of at least 50 percent. *ACE inhibitors (inhibitors of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) - these drugs help the arteries relax, lower blood pressure, making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body - they lower the heart"s workload. Ace inhibitors generally boost the performance of the heart and invariably improve the quality of life of the heart failure patient. These drugs are unsuitable for some patients, though. They can cause an irritating cough in some people. *Diuretics - these help patients with swollen ankles. They also relieve breathlessness caused by heart failure. Diuretics remove water and salt from the kidneys in the urine. There are three main types of diuretics - loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics and potassium-sparing diuretics. *Anticoagulants - these drugs make it harder for the blood to clot; they help thin the blood and help prevent a stroke. The most commonly used anticoagulant is Warfarin. However, it has to be carefully monitored by the doctor to ensure the blood thinning effect is not excessive. *Digoxin - a drug for patients with a fast irregular heart rhythm. Digoxin slows down the heartbeat. *Beta-blockers - some heart failure patients benefit from beta-blockers. Patients with asthma should not take them. *Antiplatelet medicine - these stop the blood platelets from forming clots in the blood. Aspirin is an antiplatelet drug. If the patient is taking warfarin he/she should not take aspirin. Patients who take low-dose aspirin for heart failure will need to continue taking it for the rest of their life. Preserving kidney function - Mayo Clinic cardiology researchers found a peptide (a unique link of amino acids) that helps preserve and improve kidney function during heart failure, without affecting blood pressure. *Surgery Not everybody with heart failure responds to drug treatment. However, there are several devices which may be implanted, such as LVADs (left-ventricular assist devices), pacemakers, or cardioverter defibrillators. Another option for people with severe heart failure is to have a heart transplant. A type of surgery which reshapes the scarred left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart, and is often done in conjunction with heart bypass, not only failed to reduce deaths and hospitalizations in heart failure patients but also did not improve patients" quality of life compared to bypass alone, a large US study found. A landmark study successfully demonstrated a 29% reduction in heart failure or death in patients with heart disease who received an implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy device with defibrillator (CRT-D) versus patients who received only an implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD-only). *Exercise training Patients with heart failure who participated in aerobic exercise training had modest improvements in self-reported health status compared to those patients who did not have exercise training, a study found. Prevention There are many things we can do regarding our lifestyles to reduce the chances of ever developing heart failure in the first place, or at least to slow down its progression. These include: *Give up smoking. *Eat sensibly, this includes plenty of fruit and vegetable, good quality fats, unrefined carbohydrates, whole grains, and the right amount of daily calories. This article explains how heart-healthy eating recommended for heart failure patients need not be a of frustration or misery - even for a Frenchman. *Do exercise regularly and stay physically active (check with your doctor). *Go easy on your salt intake. *Make sure your bodyweight is ideal for your height. *Consume alcohol within your national recommended limits. *Get at least 7 hours good quality sleep each night. *Mental stress may be bad for the heart over the long-term. Try to find ways of reducing your exposure to mental stress. *If you already suffer from heart failure make sure you are up-to-date with all your vaccinations, and have your yearly flu-jab. Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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