Chronic Heart Failure

Chronic Heart Failure

Article
Heart & Vascular Health
Nutrition & Dietetics
+1
Contributed byKrish Tangella MD, MBAMay 20, 2018

What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

  • Chronic Cardiac Failure

What is Chronic Heart Failure? (Definition/Background Information)

  • Chronic Heart Failure is a long-term, repeated cardiovascular condition in which the heart is unable to pump adequate amounts of blood to support body functions.
  • Most cases of Chronic Heart Failure result from weakening of the heart, damage to the heart, or stiffening of the heart muscles. In these cases, the heart’s pumping power is lowered, increasing the pressure in the heart and decreasing the heart’s ability to properly pump blood, which contains necessary oxygen and nutrients, to support the body’s needs.
  • Two major forms of Chronic Heart Failure exist:
    • Systolic heart failure - heart muscles cannot pump blood out of the heart
    • Diastolic heart failure - heart muscles are stiff and cannot easily fill up with blood
  • Unlike acute heart failure, which develops rapidly and suddenly, Chronic Heart Failure is a long-term condition that plagues people throughout their late-adult life. Symptoms usually progress slowly and become worse over time rather than begin suddenly.
  • Chronic Heart Failure can affect one (right or left) or both sides of the heart. 

Who gets Chronic Heart Failure? (Age and Sex Distribution)

  • Chronic Heart Failure is most prominent in elderly populations. People over the age of 55 are most susceptible to developing heart failure.
  • Studies have found that Chronic Heart Failure has the highest incidence rate in minority populations, including African-Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics. This is believed to be due to the high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors of chronic heart disease in these populations.
  • Chronic Heart Failure occurs in males and females in similar numbers. 

What are the Risk Factors for Chronic Heart Failure? (Predisposing Factors)

Common risk factors of Chronic Heart Failure include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Coronary artery disease - narrowing of the arteries
  • Elderly age - heart muscles weaken with age, other health problems arise
  • Smoking
  • High cholesterol - prevent proper blood flow through blood vessels
  • Previous heart attacks - damage heart muscles 
  • Ischaemic heart disease - prevents the heart from getting adequate oxygen
  • Overweight
  • Congenital heart defects - heart defects from birth can lead to acute heart failure

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Chronic Heart Failure? (Etiology)

  • In the simplest terms, Chronic Heart Failure occurs because the heart has been damaged or weakened. When problems with the heart are present, it cannot properly function and cycle blood through the body. This prevents oxygen and necessary nutrients from getting to all parts of the body.
  • While heart damage is the cause of Chronic Heart Failure, the causes of heart damage greatly vary. These sources include:
    • Coronary artery disease - disease in which the arteries narrow, making it more difficult for blood to travel to and from the heart
    • High blood pressure - blood pressure is high which causes the heart to work harder than normal to circulate blood through the body; over time, muscles of the heart thicken to make it easier to circulate blood and can eventually become stiff and too weak to adequately pump blood
    • Myocarditis - inflammatory disease caused by a virus that results in inflamed heart muscles that cannot pump blood as efficiently
    • Heart valve disease - disease that results in weak, leaky or narrow heart valves that are unable to effectively pump blood to the body
    • Genetics - genetic mutations can result in heart malformations that deter the heart’s ability to pump blood

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Heart Failure?

Common signs and symptoms of Chronic Heart Failure include:

  • Cough
  • Weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased urination
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Enlarged liver
  • Enlarged abdomen
  • Swollen feet/ankles
  • Unexpected weight gain
  • Dizzy spells
  • Edema
  • Lung congestion

While most of these signs and symptoms are also found in individuals with acute heart failure, these symptoms usually arise slowly and worsen over time rather than suddenly appear.

How is Chronic Heart Failure Diagnosed?

  • To diagnose Chronic Heart Failure, most medical professionals will conduct a physical examination and collect a full medical history. A physical examination will help to determine if fluid buildup or edema is present, which are common symptoms of Chronic Heart Failure. A medical history questionnaire will help your doctor understand if any previous conditions (diabetes, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure) that you had may have increased your likelihood of developing Chronic Heart Failure.
  • An echocardiogram is the most effective method of diagnosing Chronic Heart Failure. It is important because it shows the structure, movement, and functioning of the heart.
  • Blood tests can also be used as a diagnostic tool. Blood tests are done to evaluate kidney functioning and check cholesterol levels. If low kidney functioning or high cholesterol levels are found, it could indicate that blood is not traveling efficiently through the body and that Chronic Heart Failure is likely present.
  • A chest X-ray could be suggested as a diagnostic tool as it will show the size of the heart and determine if any fluid build-up is present in the heart or lungs. 
  • A doctor may also conduct a variety of exercise tests to better understand the functioning of the individual’s heart and capacity to do work. One of the most common exercise tests is the six minute walk, which involves walking around a track for six minutes. If the person starts to slow down over the six minute period, then Chronic Heart Failure is the likely diagnosis. 

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Chronic Heart Failure?

  • Complications are likely to result from Chronic Heart Failure. One of the most common complications that occur is kidney damage or kidney failure. In individual’s with Chronic Heart Failure, blood flow to the kidneys is reduced. This can ultimately lower the kidney’s ability to function.
  • Fluid buildup is a common symptom of Chronic Heart Failure. When this occurs, heart valve damage is likely to occur and can lead to heart valve problems that worsen Chronic Heart Failure.
  • Heart attacks and strokes are another common complication associated with Chronic Heart Failure. When Chronic Heart Failure occurs, blood flow is slowed and the likelihood of developing blood clots is increased. This increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke occurring.

How is Chronic Heart Failure Treated?

  • Due to the long-lasting symptoms and problems associated with Chronic Heart Failure, lifelong treatment and management of symptoms is required. This will help improve life expectancy and reduce the likelihood of sudden death.
  • A variety of treatment options exist for Chronic Heart Failure. These include:
    • Medications (usually multiple medications are required to treat symptoms)
      • Diuretics - cause frequent urination and prevent fluid collection in the body
      • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors - widen blood vessels and improve blood flow; decreases blood pressure and stress on heart muscles
      • Angiotensin II receptor blockers - work in the same manner as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
      • Digoxin - increases cardiac output by improving heart muscle contractions
      • Beta blockers - help reduce blood pressure and slow heart rate
    • Surgery
      • Coronary bypass surgery
      • Heart valve replacement
      • Heart transplant
    • Medical devices 
      • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator - device implanted into chest with wires attached to the heart; used to monitor heart beat and shock the heart back to normal rhythm when abnormalities occur
      • Heart pumps - chest or abdomen implantation that attach to heart to help it pump properly
      • Pacemaker - implanted into chest to help keep heart beat steady and coordinate the left and right sides of the heart so that they contract at the same time

How can Chronic Heart Failure be Prevented?

  • The most effective way of preventing chronic heart failure is to reduce your likelihood of developing risk factors.
  • Lifestyle changes are the most important in reducing risk factors of Chronic Heart Failure. These changes include:
    • Not smoking
    • Eating healthy/changing diet to control diabetes and cholesterol problems
    • Exercising regularly
    • Preventing stress 

What is the Prognosis of Chronic Heart Failure? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

  • The outcome of Chronic Heart Failure widely varies.
  • With proper treatment and control of symptoms, most people with Chronic Heart Failure are able to resume normal, day-to-day living and improve their life expectancy. This is most effectively done by taking medications and making lifestyle changes.
  • In cases where symptoms get worse or suddenly appear sudden death or worsening medical problems can occur.

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Chronic Heart Failure:

The following DoveMed website link is a useful resource for additional information:

https://www.dovemed.com/healthy-living/heart-center/

Was this article helpful

On the Article

Krish Tangella MD, MBA picture
Approved by

Krish Tangella MD, MBA

Pathology, Medical Editorial Board, DoveMed Team

0 Comments

Please log in to post a comment.

Related Articles

Test Your Knowledge

Asked by users

Related Centers

Loading

Related Specialties

Loading card

Related Physicians

Related Procedures

Related Resources

Join DoveHubs

and connect with fellow professionals

Related Directories

Who we are

At DoveMed, our utmost priority is your well-being. We are an online medical resource dedicated to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of medical topics. But we're more than just an information hub - we genuinely care about your health journey. That's why we offer a variety of products tailored for both healthcare consumers and professionals, because we believe in empowering everyone involved in the care process.
Our mission is to create a user-friendly healthcare technology portal that helps you make better decisions about your overall health and well-being. We understand that navigating the complexities of healthcare can be overwhelming, so we strive to be a reliable and compassionate companion on your path to wellness.
As an impartial and trusted online resource, we connect healthcare seekers, physicians, and hospitals in a marketplace that promotes a higher quality, easy-to-use healthcare experience. You can trust that our content is unbiased and impartial, as it is trusted by physicians, researchers, and university professors around the globe. Importantly, we are not influenced or owned by any pharmaceutical, medical, or media companies. At DoveMed, we are a group of passionate individuals who deeply care about improving health and wellness for people everywhere. Your well-being is at the heart of everything we do.

© 2023 DoveMed. All rights reserved. It is not the intention of DoveMed to provide specific medical advice. DoveMed urges its users to consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and answers to their personal medical questions. Always call 911 (or your local emergency number) if you have a medical emergency!