Symptoms of chronic heart failure

Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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Chronic heart failure can be divided into left heart failure, right heart failure, and total heart failure. The symptoms of left heart failure primarily manifest as congestion in the pulmonary circulation, that is, a reduction in cardiac output. Patients may experience varying degrees of breathing difficulties, starting with exertional dyspnea, then orthopnea, followed by paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and eventually acute pulmonary edema. Additional symptoms may include coughing, expectoration, hemoptysis, fatigue, tiredness, dizziness, reduced exercise tolerance, and symptoms of insufficient blood supply to organs and tissues, including oliguria and kidney damage. The symptoms of right heart failure can present as gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal distension, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and also exertional dyspnea. When both left and right heart failures occur, it is referred to as total heart failure. In cases of total heart failure, symptoms of both left and right heart failures may be present.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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What medicine is used for chronic heart failure?

Chronic heart failure is also relatively common in clinical practice. The treatment of heart failure mainly includes preventing and delaying the onset of heart failure, alleviating the symptoms of clinical heart failure patients, improving the long-term prognosis of patients, and reducing mortality. These are the treatment principles for heart failure. After the occurrence of heart failure, its treatment mainly includes the treatment of the basic etiology, as well as the elimination of various precipitating factors, such as infections, etc. The pharmacological treatment mainly includes several aspects: first, the use of diuretics; second, the use of renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone system inhibitors; third, the use of receptor blockers; and fourth, the correct use of positive inotropic drugs, etc. Heart failure can alleviate the clinical symptoms of patients through pharmacological treatments.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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How is heart failure treated?

Heart failure is very common in clinical settings. The main treatments include strengthening the heart, diuresis, and vasodilation for symptomatic treatment. A mask or high-flow oxygen can be used if the patient's heart failure symptoms are difficult to correct, or if cardiogenic shock occurs. Aortic balloon counterpulsation and tracheal intubation can be adopted, with ventilator support for ventilation, and blood dialysis and other symptomatic supportive treatments can be used. Another point is to actively control or eliminate the causes of heart failure, etc.

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Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
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Can people with chronic heart failure smoke?

Patients with chronic heart failure should not smoke, as smoking can enhance the excitability of the sympathetic nervous system. Increased excitability of the sympathetic nervous system releases norepinephrine, elevating norepinephrine levels. This can cause peripheral vasoconstriction, increase the afterload on the heart, and accelerate heart rate. Both of these effects can increase myocardial oxygen consumption. Furthermore, norepinephrine has a direct toxic effect on myocardial cells, promoting myocardial cell apoptosis and participating in the pathological process of ventricular remodeling. Moreover, excitement of the sympathetic nervous system can also enhance myocardial stress, potentially promoting the occurrence of arrhythmias. Therefore, patients with chronic heart failure should not smoke.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Treatment methods for chronic heart failure

The treatment of heart failure mainly includes the following points. The first major category is etiological treatment, where we should actively manage all common diseases that may impair cardiac function, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc. The second category is to eliminate the factors that lead to heart failure, such as infections, especially respiratory infections. The third major category is for patients to pay attention to rest, control physical activity, avoid emotional excitement, and control sodium intake to reduce blood volume. The fourth category is drug therapy, which commonly includes the use of diuretics, ACE inhibitors, positive inotropic drugs, and β-blockers in clinical practice. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Chronic heart failure means

Chronic heart failure refers to a condition where the heart is unable to effectively pump blood throughout the body to meet the needs of vital organs, leading to a series of clinical symptoms caused by venous congestion and arterial ischemia. Symptoms include post-activity palpitations, orthopnea, swelling of the lower limbs, and enlarged liver. This condition causes great distress to patients and requires long-term use of effective medications to alleviate chronic heart failure. Patients with chronic heart failure need to ensure adequate rest, avoid overexertion, adhere to a low-salt diet, and limit the intake of spicy and greasy foods to prevent exacerbation of heart failure.