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Congestive Heart: Congestive Heart Failure

The human body is a magnificent machine that works in harmony with nature. The machinery needs proper care and sometimes parts replaced. Like the machine so the heart also needs help to prevent failure. The pump may not pump enough blood to meet your body's needs, which can lead into congestive heart failure. Many underlying conditions can cause congestive heart failure.

By Daniel B Hyde

The human body is a magnificent machine that works in harmony with nature.  The machinery needs proper care and sometimes parts replaced.  Like the machine so the heart also needs help to prevent failure. The pump may not pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs, which can lead into congestive heart failure. Many underlying conditions can cause congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure occurs when for whatever reason the heart is unable to effectively pump the blood through the body. This usually occurs when the heart muscle is weak due to disease or stressed beyond its ability to function. Congestive heart failure is usually a secondary disease following another cardiac condition, primarily either coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, valvular disease, or cardiac arrhythmias, with coronary artery disease carrying the poorest prognosis. It may also follow a myocardial infarction, renal failure, sepsis or severe anemia.

When the fluid fills up the left side of the heart the pressure in the lungs passes to the right side of the heart, which then fails.  The fluid then collects in the abdomen and lower extremities which all leads up to heart failure.  Heart Failure develops quickly after a heart attack.  The heart failure can also develop after years of high blood pressure or coronary artery disease.  A defective valve may cause heart failure. A heart valve replacement in this case will prevent heart failure. A specialist normally does the surgical part, which is a cardiologist.

The cardiologist who is a heart specialist can inform you about by-pass surgery or stents to help open up the flow of your blood through your veins.  Many things are possible to prolong your life just ask your doctor for advise as to what you need.  It is very possible for you to do things for yourself that will help in good heart health.

Treatment of congestive heart failure consists primarily of treating the symptoms.  Vital signs should be taken regularly, and often diuretics will be prescribed to facilitate expulsion of accumulated fluid from the body. While in the hospital fluid intake and output will be measured very carefully.

- The most common cause of heart failure is Coronary artery disease. A process called atherosclerosis, which is a build up of fatty deposits in the arteries. This fatty build up causes the blood to narrow a process called plaque, which leaves chronically deprived of oxygen-rich blood pump less vigorously. A heart attack occurs if an unstable plaque not function well it will cause a blood clot in turn completely blocks the blood flow to an area of the heart muscle. This is one of the most common causes of heart failure.

There are several factors that contribute to congestive heart failure and, if diagnosed, should be treated and maintained. These include hypertension, anemia or poycythemia, endocrine disorders, malnutrition, drug or alcohol use and obesity. Therefore, it is very important that patients suffering from congestive heart failure pay particular attention to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A doctor can aid in establishing the best diet and exercise plan with each individual to prevent placing undue stress on the heart and lungs.

Take your cardiologists advice watch your weight and exercise your on the way to a heart healthy way of life.

About the author: Daniel B Hyde is the owner of the site about Congestive Heartand Congestive Heart FailureFeel free to grab a unique version of this article from the Congestive Heart Articles Submissions Service

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