Living With Congestive Heart Disease

Answer 1

Congestive Heart disease is a condition in which an individual's body becomes congested with fluids because the heart is unable to pump enough nutrients and oxygen to meet the needs of the kidneys and other vital organs. With congestive heart disease, an individual's heart becomes either too enlarged or too stiff to be able to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. This causes blood to move through the body at a slower rate. Over time, the slower blood flow causes the kidneys to malfunction and start retaining water and sodium. The fluid builds up in areas such as the ankles, feet, legs and lungs and eventually causes the body to become congested. Congestive heart disease is often also referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF).

Causes of congestive heart failure

Congestive heart disease is often caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries as the result of a build-up of plaque and other fatty materials on the walls of the coronary arteries. Heart failure and heart disease can also result from a heart attack that damages all or part of an individual's heart muscle. In addition, conditions such as Diabetes, kidney disease and thyroid disease can also cause heart muscles to get damaged and lead to heart disease.

Symptoms of heart disease

People with congestive heart disease sometimes have no obvious symptoms of the problem. In most cases though, the disease manifests itself in some way or the other. One common symptom of congestive heart failure is shortness of breath, wheezing and difficulty breathing because of fluid build-up in the lungs. Swollen ankles, swollen feet and a bloated abdomen are also common signs of congestive heart failure. Other symptoms include irregular and rapid heart beats, constant fatigue and weakness, nausea and loss of appetite.

Treating congestive heart disease

Congestive heart disease cannot be reversed. However, it can be managed and treated with medication. Some commonly used medications to treat congestive heart disease include ACE inhibitors for controlling hypertension, beta blockers for regulating blood pressure and oxygen use, diuretics to protect against fluid retention and nitroglycerin-based tables for treating chest pain. Regular exercise and a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in meat and sodium, can go a long way in mitigating the symptoms of heart failure. Lifestyle changes that help individuals reduce stress and lose weight are also very beneficial in treating the symptoms of congestive heart disease.