Congestive Heart Failure
INTRODUCTION Definition;
It is a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to deliver adequate quantities of blood to the metabolizing tissues during normal activity or at rest.
Causes
1. Although the disease occurs most commonly among the elderly (80% of patients hospitalized with CHF are > 65 years of age), it may appear at any age as a consequence of underlying cardiovascular disease.
2. There currently is no single diagnostic test for CCHF, and the clinical diagnosis is normally based on patient history and physical examination.
3. CHF should not be considered an independent diagnosis because it is super imposed on an underlying cause.
a) Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the cause of CHF in about two thirds of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
b) The remaining third of patients have a non-ischemic cause of systolic dysfunction owing to other causes of myocardial stress, which included trauma, disease, or other abnormal states (e.g. , pulmonary embolism, infection, anemia, pregnancy, drug use or abuse, fluid over load, arrhythmia, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, congenital heart disease) .
4. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) developed a classification system, still used today to quantify the functional limitations of CHF patients. The NYHA classes are as follows:
a) Class I : Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms equals those that would limit normal individuals.
b) Class II: Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms occurs with ordinary exertion.
c) Class III : Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms occurs with less- than ordinary
d) exertion.
e) Class IV. Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms occurs while at rest.
Substances That May Exacerbate Heart Failure;
Promote Sodium
Retention Produce
Osmotic Effect Decrease Contractility
Androgens
Albumin Antiarrhythmic agents (e.g.,
It is a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to deliver adequate quantities of blood to the metabolizing tissues during normal activity or at rest.
Causes
1. Although the disease occurs most commonly among the elderly (80% of patients hospitalized with CHF are > 65 years of age), it may appear at any age as a consequence of underlying cardiovascular disease.
2. There currently is no single diagnostic test for CCHF, and the clinical diagnosis is normally based on patient history and physical examination.
3. CHF should not be considered an independent diagnosis because it is super imposed on an underlying cause.
a) Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the cause of CHF in about two thirds of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
b) The remaining third of patients have a non-ischemic cause of systolic dysfunction owing to other causes of myocardial stress, which included trauma, disease, or other abnormal states (e.g. , pulmonary embolism, infection, anemia, pregnancy, drug use or abuse, fluid over load, arrhythmia, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, congenital heart disease) .
4. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) developed a classification system, still used today to quantify the functional limitations of CHF patients. The NYHA classes are as follows:
a) Class I : Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms equals those that would limit normal individuals.
b) Class II: Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms occurs with ordinary exertion.
c) Class III : Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms occurs with less- than ordinary
d) exertion.
e) Class IV. Degree of effort necessary to elicit CHF symptoms occurs while at rest.
Substances That May Exacerbate Heart Failure;
Promote Sodium
Retention Produce
Osmotic Effect Decrease Contractility
Androgens
Albumin Antiarrhythmic agents (e.g.,