Congestive Heart Failure, Secret Killer

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a heart failure in pumping the blood supply needed by the body. This is due to abnormalities in the heart muscles so that the heart cannot work normally. During this time, heart failure is described as the condition of someone's heart that stops working, in this case is stop beating. In fact, heart failure means the inability of the heart to pump blood or the inability of the heart to meet the normal blood quota that the body needs.

Process for Congestive Heart Failure

The heart has four chambers that have their respective duties, the right and left at the top, and the right and left chambers at the bottom. Based on the location of the heart space, congestive heart failure can be divided into three types, namely the left, right, and mixed.

• Left-hand congestive heart failure

In patients with left-sided congestive heart failure, the ventricular space or left ventricle of the heart is not functioning properly. This section should drain blood throughout the body through the aorta, then pass on to the arteries. Because the function of the left ventricle is not functioning optimally, there is an increase in pressure on the left atrium and surrounding blood vessels. This condition creates a buildup of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema). Furthermore, fluid buildup can also form in the abdominal and leg cavities. This lack of blood flow then interferes with kidney function, so the body hoard more water and salt than needed. In some cases, this disease may not be due to the failure of the left ventricle in pumping blood. The inability of the left ventricle of the heart to relax also sometimes causes it. Unable to relax, a buildup of blood occurs when the heart puts pressure back to fill the heart's chamber.

• Right-sided congestive heart failure

Occurs when the right ventricle of the heart has difficulty pumping blood to the lungs. As a result, blood returns to the veins (veins), causing fluid to build up in the stomach and other body parts, such as the legs. Right congestive heart failure often begins with left congestive heart failure, where there is excessive pressure on the lungs, so that the ability of the right side of the heart to pump blood to the lungs becomes disrupted too.

• Mixed congestive heart failure

Left and right congestive heart failure occur simultaneously.

What are the symptoms that appear?

There are several symptoms that indicate that a person is suffering from congestive heart failure. Although in the initial stages, symptoms may not affect general health conditions, but as conditions worsen, the symptoms will become more apparent. There are at least three stages of symptoms that can be seen in a person with congestive heart failure. The first is the early stages of symptoms. At this stage, the patient experiences:

• Swelling of the feet and ankles.
• Easily tired, especially after doing physical activity.
• Significant weight gain.
• More often want to urinate, especially at night.

If the patient's condition continues to deteriorate, the following symptoms will appear:

• Irregular heartbeat.
• Coughing due to swelling of the lungs.
• Wheezing breath.
• Shortness of breath because the lungs are filled with fluid. Shortness will also appear when doing mild physical activity or when lying down.
• Difficult to move because every time doing light physical activity, the body will feel tired.

Furthermore, congestive heart failure can be said to be severe, if the patient has experienced symptoms such as:

• The spread of pain in the chest through the upper body, this condition can also indicate a heart attack.
• The skin becomes bluish, because the lungs experience a lack of oxygen.
• Short and fast breaths.
• Passed out.

In the condition of severe congestive heart failure, symptoms will be felt even when the body is at rest. At this stage, people with congestive heart failure will have difficulty in carrying out daily activities.

What Dangers Do Congestive Heart Failure Patients Face?

A person who has congestive heart failure needs to be aware of his or her safety. Patients must immediately undergo treatment or will be faced with several risks of complications, including:

• Failure of other organs

One of the organs that can experience malfunction is the kidney. This happens because in patients with congestive heart failure, blood flow to the kidneys will decrease. If no treatment is given, it can lead to kidney organ damage or kidney failure. Fluid buildup can also occur in the liver. When this condition is not treated, hepatic function can occur.

• Heart valve disorders

Congestive heart failure can cause increased blood pressure in the heart. This condition can eventually cause heart valve disorders. Advanced stage congestive heart failure can also cause swelling of the heart or enlargement of the heart, so that the valve function of the heart cannot run normally.

• Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia or heart rhythm disorders can be suffered by patients with congestive heart failure. This arrhythmia can occur due to a disruption in the heart's electrical current which functions to regulate heart rhythm and beat. If people with congestive heart failure then suffer from arrhythmias, then they will be at high risk of stroke. Patients are also susceptible to thromboembolism, which is blockage in blood vessels due to blood clots being released.

• Sudden cardiac arrest

One dangerous complication that needs to be watched for in congestive heart failure is sudden cardiac arrest. When the function of the heart is disrupted and untreated, over time the heart's performance will experience a drastic decline and risk of sudden cardiac arrest. There are several things that cause this condition can occur in congestive heart failure. Among them because the heart does not get enough oxygen, nerve disorders that regulate heart function, or due to changes in heart shape.

Overall, chronic heart failure, including congestive heart failure, is a significant contributor to mortality. About 2-3 out of 10 people who suffer from early to moderate heart failure die each year. While in heart failure that has been severe, up to half the number of sufferers cannot be saved. If you feel the symptoms of heart problems, especially those that lead to congestive heart failure, you need to immediately see a doctor to prevent further complications.