What is heart failure and what are the symptoms?

 What is heart failure and what are the symptoms?

The inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the body is defined as heart failure. All key body functions are disturbed if there isn't enough blood flow. Heart failure is a disease or set of symptoms that causes your heart to weaken.

The heart in certain persons with heart failure has issues circulating enough blood to maintain the body's other cells. Other people may experience cardiac muscle hardness and stiffening, which prevents or limits blood flow to the heart.

What are the causes of heart failure?

Many health issues that damage the heart muscle can lead to heart failure. The following are examples of common conditions:

Heart disease damages the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart (also known as coronary atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries") (coronary arteries). The natural lining of the arteries breaks down, the artery walls thicken, and fat and plaque deposits partially restrict the flow of blood. The arteries constrict or become fully clogged over time, resulting in a heart attack.

The heart is unable to pump enough blood to maintain your organs and tissues (including your heart) healthy because of the obstruction. Chest pain (angina) and other heart disease symptoms can occur when arteries get obstructed.

Angina pectoris When a coronary artery becomes unexpectedly clogged, blood cannot circulate to all parts of the heart muscle, resulting in a heart attack. Muscle cells may die and the heart muscle is irreversibly injured. It's possible that normal heart muscle cells are working harder than usual. 

Cardiomyopathy. Damage to and swelling of the heart muscle that is not caused by problems with the coronary arteries or blood flow is known as cardiomyopathy. Viruses, alcohol or drug addiction, smoking, genetics, and pregnancy are all possible causes of cardiomyopathy (peripartum cardiomyopathy).

Congenital heart defects (congenital heart disease).

Diabetes.

Blood pressure that is too high (hypertension). The force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is known as blood pressure (arteries). The pressure in your arteries is higher than normal if you have high blood pressure. Your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to the body when your blood pressure is high. This can cause the left ventricle to thicken or stiffen, resulting in HF-pEF. High blood pressure can potentially constrict your coronary arteries, resulting in coronary artery disease.

Arrhythmia is a condition in which a person's (abnormal heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation).

Kidney disease is a condition that affects many people.

Obesity is a problem that affects many people (being overweight).

Tobacco and illicit drug use are two of the most common causes of death in the United States.

Medications. Some cancer-fighting medications (chemotherapy) can cause cardiac failure.

Prevention

Reducing your risk factors is the key to preventing heart failure. Many of the risk factors for heart disease can be reduced or eliminated by following a healthy lifestyle and taking the medications prescribed by your doctor.

You can help prevent heart failure by making the following lifestyle changes:

Smoking withdrawal

Controlling certain diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes

Keeping yourself physically active

Consumption of nutritious foods

Keeping a healthy weight is important.

Stress reduction and management

Diagnosis

Tests will be performed to determine the severity of your heart failure and the cause. The following are examples of common tests:

Blood testing can tell us how well your kidneys and thyroid are functioning. For high cholesterol and anemia, we'll check your cholesterol and red blood cell counts. The level of hemoglobin (HE-mo-globe-in) in your blood is lower than normal if you have anemia. Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells that allows blood to deliver oxygen throughout the body. You'll feel weary and have other symptoms that are comparable to those of heart failure if your hemoglobin levels are low.

The size of your heart and any fluid build-up around your heart and lungs can be seen on a chest x-ray.

An echocardiogram is a test that examines the heart (echo). An ultrasound is used to determine how well your heart can pump and relax, as well as to examine your heart valves, measure your heart, and examine blood flow. An ultrasound wand is moved around on the skin of your chest to capture images. A Doppler test is often used in conjunction with an echo to allow your doctor to examine changes in the pressure inside your heart chambers and the way blood flows over your heart valves. Is one of the simplest ways to figure out.