Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Disease)
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is generally classified as systolic or diastolic heart failure and becomes progressively more common with increasing age.
Systolic heart failure: The pumping action of the heart is reduced or weakened. A common clinical measurement is the ejection fraction (EF). The ejection fraction is a calculation of how much blood is ejected out of the left ventricle (stroke volume), divided by the maximum volume remaining in the left ventricle at the end of diastole or relaxation phase. A normal ejection fraction is greater than 50%. Systolic heart failure has a decreased ejection fraction of less than 50%.
Diastolic heart failure: The heart can contract normally but is stiff, or less compliant, when it is relaxing and filling with blood. This impedes blood filling into the heart and produces backup into the lungs and CHF symptoms. Diastolic heart failure is more common in patients older than 75 years, especially in women with high blood pressure. In diastolic heart failure, the ejection fraction is normal.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a syndrome, not a disease that can be brought about by several causes. CHF is a weakening of the heart brought on by an underlying heart or blood vessel problem, often a combination of several different problems, including the following:
- Weakened heart muscle, Damaged heart valves, Blocked coronary arteries, Toxic exposures, like alcohol or cocaine, Infections, High blood pressure that results in thickening of the heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy), Pericardial disease, such as pericardial effusion and/or a thickened pericardium, which does not allow the heart to fill properly, Congenital heart diseases, Prolonged, serious arrhythmias
CHF is often a result of the following lifestyle habits: smoking and excessive use of alcohol, Obesity and lack of activity accompanying high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease,
Other conditions may have injured the heart such as thyroid disorders or treatments for cancer.
- The early symptoms are often shortness of breath, cough, or a feeling of not being able to get a deep breath.
- Exercise intolerance, Shortness of breath (dyspnea), especially when he or she is active. When CHF worsens, fluid backs up into the lungs and interferes with oxygen getting into the blood, causing orthopnea. If a person has CHF, he or she may awaken at night short of breath and have to sit or stand up to get relief. This is called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
- As the buildup of fluid in the lungs becomes very severe, a frothy, pink liquid may be coughed up.
- Fluid retention and swelling (edema) in the legs, the feet, and the ankles may occur, particularly at the end of the day or after prolonged sitting or standing. This is pitting edema. Swelling may be so severe as to reach up to the hips, scrotum, abdominal wall, and eventually the abdominal cavity (ascites).
Faulty lifestyle being a major reason for Heart Disease and Failure so, the foremost impostance isgiven to maintaing a healthy diet and life style. One should:-
- Avoid sugar
- Avoid fried and fatty foods especially packed and presrevative food items
- Avoid Alcohol and smoking
- Do regular walk and light exercise regularly
- Avoid unnecessary worry and stress
- Maintain healthy and loving relationships
Homoeopathy has some wonderful medicines that can be extremely beneficial in cases of Heart Diseases. Medicines like Adonis Vernalis, Iberis Amara, Convallaria Majalis, Digitalis, Aurum Met., Crategus, Laurocerasus, Strphanthus, etc. are extremely useful in cardiac patients. Homoeopathic medicines not only act on the heart but also can treat and regulate conditions like High Bp and Diabetes with very effective treatment and hence prevent any further damage on the heart.
- ECG
- Trop-I
- Echocardiogram
- TMT
- Blood Glucose Analysis
- LFT
- KFT
- Urine Analysis
