Congestive Heart Failure
- By Kyle Knight
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- 20 Mar, 2019
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CHF
CHF
Congestive Heart Failure
You don't have to face HF alone
The term “heart failure” makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all and there’s nothing that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.
Your body depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body’s cells. When the cells are nourished properly, the body can function normally. With heart failure, the weakened heart can’t supply the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath and some people have coughing. Everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can become very difficult.
Heart failure
Heart failure is a term used to describe a heart that cannot keep up with its workload. The body may not get the oxygen it needs.
Heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there’s no cure. But many people with heart failure lead a full, enjoyable life when the condition is managed with heart failure medications and healthy lifestyle changes. It’s also helpful to have the support of family and friends who understand your condition.
How the normal heart works
The normal healthy heart is a strong, muscular pump a little larger than a fist. It pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system.
The heart has four chambers, two on the right and two on the left:
Two upper chambers called atria (one is called an atrium)
Two lower chambers called ventricles
The right atrium takes in oxygen-depleted blood from the rest of the body and sends it back out to the lungs through the right ventricle where the blood becomes oxygenated.
Oxygen-rich blood travels from the lungs to the left atrium, then on to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body.
The heart pumps blood to the lungs and to all the body’s tissues through a sequence of highly organized contractions of the four chambers. For the heart to function properly, the four chambers must beat in an organized way.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can’t keep up with its workload.
At first the heart tries to make up for this by:
Enlarging. The heart stretches to contract more strongly and keep up with the demand to pump more blood. Over time this causes the heart to become enlarged.
Developing more muscle mass. The increase in muscle mass occurs because the contracting cells of the heart get bigger. This lets the heart pump more strongly, at least initially.
Pumping faster. This helps increase the heart’s output.
The body also tries to compensate in other ways:
The blood vessels narrow to keep blood pressure up, trying to make up for the heart’s loss of power.
The body diverts blood away from less important tissues and organs (like the kidneys), the heart and brain.
These temporary measures mask the problem of heart failure, but they don’t solve it. Heart failure continues and worsens until these compensating processes no longer work.
Eventually the heart and body just can’t keep up, and the person experiences the fatigue, breathing problems or other symptoms that usually prompt a trip to the doctor.
The body’s compensation mechanisms help explain why some people may not become aware of their condition until years after their heart begins its decline. (It's also a good reason to have a regular checkup with your doctor.)
Heart failure can involve the heart’s left side, right side or both sides. However, it usually affects the left side first.
Need Help with CHF?
If you or a loved one find yourself troubled with CHF, contact Primary Care Offices. They can help you identify the problem and get the help you need.
Also keep in mind that at Primary Care Offices, we have doctors who accept Medicare and Medicaid on staff, as well as others who are on the list of Humana healthcare providers.
Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located offices. Give us a call at 954-450-9595, chat online, or visit our patient portal on our home page to get a comprehensive health exam.
SUPPLEMENTS could be used to prevent high blood pressure symptoms and signs. You could lower your risk of hypertension by regularly adding these cheap capsules to your daily diet. Could you be at risk of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more
than 25 per cent of all adults in the US. The condition, which is also known as
hypertension, could be caused by eating an unhealthy diet, or by not doing
enough exercise. Diagnosing the condition early is vital, as it raises the risk
of some deadly complications, including heart attacks and strokes. But you
could lower your chances of high blood pressure by regularly taking magnesium
supplements, it’s been claimed.
Magnesium helps to regulate your blood pressure bye relaxing blood vessels, revealed Harvard Medical School.
Not getting enough magnesium in your diet could lead to constricted blood vessels, and therefore high blood pressure.
For the best anti-hypertensive effects, choose a magnesium l-threonate supplement to top up on magnesium, added Dr Joseph Mercola.
“Along with an active lifestyle and healthy dietary habits, supplements may help reduce your high blood pressure levels safely and naturally,” said the physician.
“Magnesium deficiency due to insulin resistance is one of the causes behind constricted blood vessels, which in turn leads to hypertension.
To help your blood vessels relax and dilate, you should maintain optimum magnesium levels.
“If you're planning to take a magnesium supplement, go for magnesium l-threonate, since it's formulated for maximum absorption and it doesn't have laxative properties.
“Before you take any supplements, make sure that you consult your physician first to determine the proper dosage for your needs, or to check if these supplements are suitable for your condition in the first place.”
But you should be able to top up on magnesium from your diet, without needing a supplement, said Harvard Medical School.
The best sources of magnesium include dark leafy vegetables, unrefined grains, and legumes.
Taking too much magnesium from a supplement could lead to diarrhea, but there aren’t any known side effects of eating too much magnesium.
You could also lower your blood pressure by making sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet, and by doing regular exercise.
Everyone should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.
High blood pressure is often known as ‘the silent killer’, because you may not even know you have it.
Hypertension symptoms only tend to reveal themselves if you have extremely high blood pressure.
Common high blood pressure symptoms include severe headaches, having a pounding in the chest, and finding blood in your urine.
Need Advice on Hypertension and High Blood Pressure?
Are you experiencing high blood pressure? You should talk with your doctor about how you can improve you health, and Primary Care Offices have the knowledge to help. Contact Primary Care Offices for a same day doctor’s appointment at one of our conveniently located offices all over South Florida. Give us a call at 954-450-9595 , chat online , or visit our patient portal on our homepage to get you feeling better in no time.
