Heart Failure Management

What is heart failure?

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. If this happens, blood can back up and fluid can build up in the lungs. This can cause shortness of breath. Certain heart conditions such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease can gradually leave the heart too stiff or weak to fill and pump blood properly.

Heart failure is one of the most expensive epidemic diseases, and Columbus Regional Health is committed to developing cost-effective medical technologies that save and improve lives of heart failure patients.

Proper treatment is vital. This may improve the symptoms of heart failure, and people may live longer. Treatment can include medications, lifestyle changes, or other therapies such as CardioMEMS. Lifestyle changes can improve quality of life.

Learn More About CardioMEMS

Heart failure can be life-threatening. People with heart failure may have severe symptoms. Some may need more advanced therapy such as heart transplant or a device to help the heart pump blood.

Symptoms of Heart Failure

Symptoms may develop slowly or suddenly and may include:

• A cough that doesn't go away or a cough that brings up white or pink mucus with spots of blood
• Chest pain if heart failure is caused by a heart attack
• Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
• Fatigue and weakness
• Nausea and lack of appetite
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down
• Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
• Swelling of the belly area
• Very rapid weight gain from fluid buildup
• Wheezing

Risk Factors of Heart Failure

• Age
• Alcohol, tobacco, illegal drug use
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Obesity
• Recent heart attack
• Sleep apnea
• Valvular heart disease
• Viral infections

Some medications can increase the risk of having heart failure. However, do not stop taking these medicines without first talking to your health care provider.

Causes of Heart Failure

• A heart problem that you're born with, also called a congenital heart defect
• Coronary artery disease and heart attack
• Heart valve disease
• High blood pressure
• Inflammation of the heart muscle, also called myocarditis
• Irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias
• Sometimes other diseases (ex: HIV, Diabetes, thyroid issues, Pulmonary Embolism, etc.)

Complications of Heart Failure

It’s important to have regular health checkups, even if your heart failure symptoms improve. Your health care provider will examine you and potentially run test to check for complications. There are a few factors that contribute to complications of heart failure including your age, overall health and the severity of heart disease.

Complications may include:

• Kidney damage or failure. Heart failure can reduce the blood flow to the kidneys. If this is untreated, this can cause kidney failure. Dialysis could be required for treatment.
• Liver damage. Heart failure can cause fluid buildup that puts too much pressure on the liver. This fluid backup can lead to scarring, which makes it more difficult for the liver to work properly.
• Other heart problems. Heart failure can cause changes in the heart's size and function. These changes may damage heart valves and cause irregular heartbeats.
• Sudden cardiac death. If the heart is weak, there is a risk of dying suddenly due to a dangerous irregular heart rhythm.

Prevention of Heart Failure

Conditions that can cause heart failure to occur include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Lifestyle changes may be used to manage heart failure and help prevent it. These lifestyle changes include:

• Eating healthy foods
• Getting plenty of exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Monitoring sodium intake and limiting salt
• Not smoking
• Reducing and managing stress
• Taking medications as directed

Talk to your primary care provider or cardiologist if you feel you may have symptoms of heart failure.