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Congestive Cardiac Failure
Medical Questions » Congestive Cardiac Failure
| Name: Congestive Cardiac Failure |
| Also known as: CCF; Heart Failure; Ventricular Failure |
| A failure of the heart to pump blood effectively. |
Causes of Congestive Cardiac Failure
Many conditions including heart attacks, heart infection (see endocarditis; myocarditis; pericarditis), narrowing or leaking of heart valves, high blood pressure, narrowing of the aorta (aortic stenosis), irregular heart rhythm, alcoholic heart damage, severe anemia and an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) may cause cardiac failure. In many elderly patients, there can be a multitude of causes, or no specific cause at all for heart failure. In these cases, the condition is treated as a disease in itself. |
Symptoms of Congestive Cardiac Failure
Patients complain of being short of breath when exercising or climbing stairs, or in more advanced cases they may be short of breath constantly or only when lying down at night. Other symptoms include a hard dry cough, passing excess urine at night, general tiredness and weakness, a rapid heart rate, weight loss, chest and abdominal discomfort and swelling of the feet, ankles and hands. Severely affected patients may be unable to speak a full sentence without taking a breath and a blue tinge develops on and around the lips. |
Tests for Congestive Cardiac Failure
The diagnosis can often be made without resorting to any tests. The exact cause of the CCF may be found by blood tests, chest X-rays and electrocardiograms (ECG). Echo cardiograms and cardiac catheterization (passing a tube through a vein into the heart) are sometimes undertaken if surgical treatment is being contemplated. |
Treatment for Congestive Cardiac Failure
Correction of any specific cause for the heart failure if possible, lowering high blood pressure and controlling any irregular heart rhythm. Sometimes surgical correction of a heart valve deformity is possible. A diet low in salt, and avoiding strenuous exercise can often be beneficial. Medications to remove excess fluid from the body (diuretics) and to strengthen the action of the heart (eg. digoxin, ACE inhibitors) are in common use. More sophisticated drugs are available for use in difficult cases. Oxygen may be supplied to seriously ill patients.
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Complications of Congestive Cardiac Failure of its treatment
Angina and a heart attack may occur. |
Likely Outcome of Congestive Cardiac Failure
Unless an underlying correctable cause can be found, heart failure cannot be cured, only controlled. The condition usually slowly worsens with time. It may take many years before serious incapacitation or death occurs. |
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