Yesterday I shared a post in which I talked about what I defined as one of the topics I am passionate about, such as Sepsis, in this post I talked about the complications of this clinical situation that is an emergency, and I mentioned "heart failure" among them. Today I want to bring for discussion a topic that is very relevant and that we can frequently see it as a consequence not only of sepsis but of many other situations, as it is heart failure.
Anything that affects the heart is of utmost care, I think it is something that anyone can intuit, but in this particular, heart failure has several ways of expressing itself, and that is what I want to socialize as information in this post.
If you want to know more about this topic that is very common I invite you to keep reading, what I have to tell you will surely interest you.
Some basic concepts of the heart and how it works to be very clear about its importance:
The heart is a vital muscular organ that is responsible for pumping blood through the body, basically, is a job that performs from before birth, it is even one of the organs that first begins to function when an embryo is forming.
The heart's main function is to transport oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells while also helping to remove metabolic wastes. These components are carried in the blood and it is the heart that is constantly pumping to keep the blood flowing throughout the body.
There is a system that is responsible for providing the heart with electrical energy to contract, are a group of specialized nerve cells in general and distribute that nerve or electrical impulse that is distributed throughout the heart, disappears and then another impulse is generated.
It communicates intimately with the lungs through the pulmonary artery and vein, through which blood circulates constantly from one side to the other and to the whole organism.
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. SourceThis is a simple definition, in which, considering all that has been said above, one could deduce part of the consequences of this pathology, which has multiple possible causes, such as the following:
- Coronary heart disease (atherosclerosis in the arteries that supply blood to the heart).
- Chronic arterial hypertension.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle).
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (abnormal growth of the heart muscle). - Valvular heart disease.
- Cardiac arrhythmias.
- Fluid overload in the body (edema).
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
- Diabetes.
- Drug or alcohol abuse.
- Toxins or infections.
- Genetic or hereditary conditions.
Each of these causes has a way of causing heart failure, which will manifest with specific symptomatology, but which is usually confused with other pathologies.
This confusion often causes people to receive treatment for pulmonary diseases thinking that the airway is the site of the problem.
Heart failure can cause a variety of symptoms, the most common of which are the following:
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Shortness of breath, especially during exercise or when lying down.
- Swelling in the legs, feet and abdomen.
- Persistent cough with clear or pink phlegm.
- Sensation of palpitations or irregular heartbeat.
- difficulty concentrating.
- Weight loss.
- Chest pain or pressure.
I would like to point out that the symptoms may vary in intensity and may not appear until the disease is advanced.
As previously mentioned, the heart is closely related to the lungs, but it is also responsible for carrying oxygenated blood to the whole body. So it can be said that there are two main types of heart failure:
- Left heart failure refers to a failure of the left ventricle's ability to pump blood adequately throughout the body. This can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, or valve disease. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and feet, and fatigue.
- Right heart failure refers to a failure of the right ventricle's ability to adequately pump blood through the body. This can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as lung disease, valve disease, or thyroid disease. Symptoms may include swelling in the abdomen, swelling in the legs and feet, and shortness of breath.
In some cases, there may be a combination of both types of heart failure, known as congestive heart failure.
Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Source This occurs when the heart cannot pump hard enough or when fluid builds up in the body's tissues due to pumping failure.
It is characterized by a combination of left and right heart failure symptoms. It may include shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and feet, persistent cough with phlegm, a feeling of palpitations or irregular heartbeat, confusion or difficulty concentrating, chest pain or pressure, and weight loss.
It can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, valve disease, lung disease, or thyroid disease.
Fortunately there have been many advances in the treatment of this disease, but the main thing is to know exactly what type of failure is affecting the person to determine the best treatment.
Treatment of heart failure can include several options, from lifestyle changes to medical treatments and surgery. Below I will mention the common treatment options:
Lifestyle changes: This may include exercising regularly, following a healthy diet to control weight and blood pressure, quitting smoking, and managing stress.
Medications: These may include diuretics to remove excess fluid from the body, beta blockers to lower heart rate and blood pressure, ACE inhibitors to improve the heart's ability to pump blood, and vasodilators to improve circulation.
Devices: May include a pacemaker to regulate heart rhythm or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to prevent ventricular fibrillation.
Surgery: May include coronary artery bypass surgery to improve blood flow to the heart, or valve surgery to repair or replace a damaged heart valve.
Advanced therapies: May include myocardial replacement therapies such as heart transplantation, assist devices or cell therapies.
It is important to keep in mind that treatment must be personalized and based on the patient's individual needs, and that ongoing follow-up is essential for long-term success.
Without further ado, hoping that you have enjoyed this post, I bid you farewell. If you have anything to add, please leave it in the comments and we can all benefit from it.
