Question

Research a disorder pertaining to the cardiovascular system. Summarize the disorder using medical terms with reference

Answer 1

HEART FAILURE

It means the muscles of the heart are unable to pump blood adequately. It is also known as congestive heart failure.

TYPES:

1. Left sided heart failure
2. Right sided heart failure.

Left sided heart failure: It is the most common type in which the left ventricle fails to pump blood to the body thereby leads to fluid build up in the lungs and severe breathing difficulty.

Right sided heart failure: Right ventricle has difficulty in pumping blood to lungs which causes fluid retension in the lower extremities, vital organs etc as the blood backup in the blood vessels.

ETIOLOGY

There are many reasons for heart failure. The important among them are:

• Hypertension
• Coronary artery disease.
• Valvular abnormalities.

Other risk factors include: diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity. Some infections can also lead to heart failure.

SYMPTOMS

Early:

• Fatigue
• Swelling of extremities, ankle etc.
• Nocturia.

As the condition progresses:

• Irregularities in heart beat
• Cough due to lung congestion.
• Shortness of breath which may be due to pulmonary edema.
• Crackles heard on auscultation.
• PND(paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea)
• Bluish discoloration of extremities.

DIAGNOSIS

Heart failure can be diagnosed through various tests:

1. ECG.
2. Echocardiogram.
3. Stress test.
4. Cardiac catheterization to identify any block in the coronary arteries.
5. Blood tests for detecting BNP, a hormone which may be elevated in heart failure and any other infections.

TREATMENT

MEDICATIONS

• ACE inhibitors: It is a vasodilator.eg: enalapril, lisinopril.
• Beta blockers: It reduces blood pressure and heart rate. eg: metoprolol.
• Diuretics: reduces fluid retention, eg: lastx.
• Digoxin: increases the strength of heart muscle contractions.
• Ionotropes: improves heart pumping function and maintain blood pressure. eg: dobutamine.

SURGERIES

It can be performed based on the causes. For example, CABG in case of blocked coronary arteries.