What is heart failure?
Heart failure is a group of syndromes caused by cardiovascular diseases that have progressed to a certain level of severity, resulting in reduced myocardial contractility or diastolic dysfunction, leading to impaired ventricular filling and/or ejection capacity. The clinical manifestations are mainly dyspnea and weakness resulting in limitation of physical activity and edema.
Why does heart failure occur?
Heart failure can be caused by almost any type of cardiac or macrovascular disease. Heart failure reflects the pumping dysfunction of the heart, which is the diastolic insufficiency of the heart muscle.
1.Primary myocardial damage
Coronary artery disease, myocarditis and cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, cardiomyopathy secondary to hyper- or hypothyroidism, myocardial amyloidosis, etc.
2.Heart overload
Hypertension, aortic valve stenosis, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary valve stenosis, congenital cardiovascular disease such as septal defect, arteriovenous insufficiency, etc.
What conditions can induce heart failure?
1, Infection, respiratory infection is the most common and most important trigger.
2, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias of organic heart disease and is the most important trigger of heart failure. Various other types of tachyarrhythmias as well as severe slow arrhythmias can induce heart failure.
3, increased blood volume, such as excessive sodium intake, excessive and rapid intravenous fluid input, etc.
4, excessive physical exertion or emotional excitement, such as late pregnancy and the process of delivery, rage, etc.
5, improper treatment, such as inappropriate discontinuation of diuretic drugs or blood pressure lowering drugs, etc.
6.Exacerbation of existing heart disease or complication of other diseases.
What are the manifestations of heart failure?
1.Left heart failure
①Difficulty in breathing of varying degrees. This includes exertional dyspnea, seated breathing, nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea, acute pulmonary edema;
②Coughing, coughing, hemoptysis;
③Weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and panic;
④ oliguria and renal function impairment.
2.Right heart failure
①Gastrointestinal symptoms. Often accompanied by abdominal distension, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and epigastric distension.
②Exertional dyspnea.
(3) Edema.
How is heart failure treated?
Long-term comprehensive treatment measures are taken, including treatment of the causes and triggers of the primary disease, regulation of over-activation of neurohumoral factors and improvement of ventricular function, in order to improve exercise tolerance, improve quality of life, prevent progressive left ventricular enlargement, correct hemodynamic abnormalities, relieve symptoms and reduce mortality. This includes drug therapy, cardiac resynchronization therapy and cardiac transplantation surgery.
What should patients with heart failure pay attention to in their lives?
1, rest, according to the condition of the appropriate arrangement of life, activities and rest. For patients with mild heart failure, physical activity can be limited to ensure adequate sleep and rest. In more severe heart failure, bed rest, including appropriate brain rest, is required. When cardiac function improves, physical activity should be gradually resumed as early as possible according to individual conditions.
2. Controlling sodium intake is an important measure in the treatment of heart failure.
What is cardiac resynchronization therapy?
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT): It is a new technology that is used to restore the synchronization of atrial, interventricular and intraventricular motion by adding left ventricular pacing to the traditional dual-chamber pacing of right atrium and right ventricle with the help of ICD technology. It not only improves the symptoms and reduces the hospitalization rate of heart failure patients, but also significantly reduces the morbidity and mortality rate of heart failure patients.