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congestive heart failure: symptoms, causes, treatments

people with heart disease can reduce their risk of heart failure by making lifestyle changes, including limiting alcohol and quitting smoking.

by dave yasvinski
published mar 29, 2023
last updated jan 08, 2024
read time 4 minute read
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read time 4 minute read
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heart failure, often referred to as congestive heart failure, is a chronic condition that occurs when the fist-sized organ is no longer able to circulate the amount of blood required to meet the body’s needs. although the heart is still working, the condition usually means it has become too weak or stiff to function properly. this can lead to swelling in the legs and abdomen, fatigue and shortness of breath as fluid backs up and accumulates in other areas of the body — usually in the lungs, legs and feet.
congestive heart failure is on the rise in canada, according to the heart & stroke foundation, largely because more people are surviving heart attacks and other coronary complications that can impair the organ’s ability to deliver oxygen throughout the body. the longer people with damaged hearts live, the more likely it becomes that they will one day experience heart failure.
although there is no cure for this condition, there are lifestyle changes and treatments that help manage symptoms and allow many patients to lead normal lives.

symptoms of heart failure

according to the cleveland clinic, symptoms of congestive heart failure can be mild or non-existent, they can also come and go. some of the signs include:

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  • shortness of breath, particularly while lying flat
  • an irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations
  • sudden weight gain over the course of a week
  • feeling full or bloated all the time
  • persistent fatigue
  • loss or change of appetite
  • persistent cold-like symptoms
  • increased nighttime urination
  • coolness in the extremities
  • increased swelling in the abdomen or lower back
  • new symptoms of cognitive impairment, such as confusion or difficulty thinking

diagnosing heart failure

doctors will usually inquire about a patient’s medical history and perform a physical examination when investigating a potential case of heart failure. the presence of swelling in the legs and an irregular heartbeat are both good indicators that the condition may be present. other tests, according to healthline, can help confirm diagnosis, including:
  • bnp blood test — detects a rise in a particular hormone that is indicative of heart failure
  • echocardiogram — uses soundwaves to produce detailed images of the heart
  • other imaging tests — x-rays, mris, ct scans and nuclear scans can all provide useful information about the heart
  • coronary angiogram — a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm or groin and guided into the heart where it can assess the flow of blood
  • stress tests — an ekg is used to monitor heart function while a patient runs on a treadmill or performs some other form of exercise
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how is heart failure treated?

addressing a heart failure depends on the precise type of failure a person is suffering from (such as left-sided, right-sided, diastolic or systolic) and how much damage has occurred. because the goal of intervention is to extend a patient’s lifespan as much as possible, the sooner treatment begins, the better. this can include:
  • medication. alone or in combination with others, medication may be prescribed to do some or all of the following: relax blood vessels and reduce clots, lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, slow heart rate, decrease fluid in the lungs and generally reduce symptoms
  • surgery. this can include bypass surgery (transporting a healthy artery to get around a blockage), percutaneous coronary intervention (a balloon is used to widen an artery), insertion of a pacemaker (to slow or speed up a patient’s pulse if needed), insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (to keep track of heart rate and shock the heart to prevent it from falling into an abnormal rhythm) and transplant surgery (if all else fails, a new heart may be needed)

preventing heart failure

there are a number of lifestyle changes patients can make to reduce their risk of suffering from heart failure. these include limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, quitting smoking, staying active, getting plenty of sleep and steering clear of high-fat foods. if heart failure is left untreated and blood is allowed to pool in other areas of the body, serious complications can arise, such as stroke, thromboembolism, arrhythmias, kidney failure and even a heart attack.
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how common is heart failure?

there are currently around 750,000 canadians living with heart failure, according to the canadian cardiovascular society. around 100,000 new diagnoses are made annually and roughly one in three canadians are impacted by the condition. heart failure is one of the main reasons people are hospitalized in canada every year and the condition is expected to cost the economy around $2.8 billion per year by 2030. 

support and resources for heart failure

for more information about heart failure, support, including a guide to living with the condition, visit the heart & stroke foundation.
dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca
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