Chronic heart failure

Pathogenesis of heart failure

Acute and chronic heart failure are distinguished by the rate of development of symptoms. Acute HF develops within a few hours and requires immediate hospitalization in the hospital.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) develops over months or years and requires prolonged regular treatment.

Depending on the decrease in the functional ability of a particular ventricle of the heart, there are:

• left ventricular failure;
• right ventricular failure;
• mixed.

Symptoms of Chronic Heart Failure

• fatigue;
• heart palpitations at rest;
• pallor or bluish tint of the skin, especially in parts of the body that are remote from the heart (fingers, toes, lips);
• shortness of breath during physical exertion;
• shortness of breath at rest, worse when lying down;
• severe attacks of shortness of breath during sleep;
• pain in the right hypochondrium associated with blood supply to the veins of the liver;
• an increase in the volume of the abdomen.

To assess the severity of heart failure, the classification of the New York Association of Cardiology (NYHA) is used:

• Grade I - Physical activity is not limited;
• Class II - Easy restriction of activity. The appearance of shortness of breath and weakness after moderate physical exertion;
• Grade III - Severe restriction of activity. Shortness of breath after minimal physical exertion;
• Grade IV - Severe activity restriction. Symptoms of heart failure at rest.

Treating Chronic Heart Failure

Treatment goals:

• elimination of the symptoms of the disease - shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue and fluid retention in the body;
• protection of target organs (heart, kidneys, brain, blood vessels, muscles) from damage;
• improving the "quality of life";
• reduction in the number of hospitalizations;
• improved prognosis (life extension).

The principles of treatment:

• dieting (high-calorie, low-salt, containing at least 750 ml of fluid per day);
• moderate regular physical activity;
• quitting smoking, alcohol;
• weight control (its sharp increase indicates the ineffectiveness of the therapy, the need to consult a doctor);
• timely and accurate administration of prescribed medications. Currently, the main groups of drugs are ACE inhibitors, diuretics, cardiac glycosides, beta-blockers. According to indications, it is possible to prescribe other drugs (aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin 2 receptor antagonists, calcium antagonists).

Specialists of the K + 31 Clinic medical center recommend that patients be under the dynamic supervision of a cardiologist. Lack of control over the patient's condition can lead to the progression of the disease and the development of complications. Also, to maintain remission, it is recommended that you strictly adhere to all the recommendations of specialists on proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.