Congestive heart failure

Question 1

what is Heart Failure?

Answer 1

It is when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. (It is not a disease underlying factors cause it)

Question 2

What are the causes and triggers of HF?

Answer 2

Long term hypertension
Diabetes type 2
CAD/ ischemic MI
Cardiomyopathy (Heart muscles find it harder to contract)
Heart valve damage (Reuhmatic fever)
Irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation)
Maori and Pacfifca have a higher risk.
Excessive alcohol and or drug use

Question 3

Test that can diagnose heart failure?

Answer 3

Blood test BNP indicates that your heart is working harder to pump
Chest x-ray of abnormal sizes
Angiogram
Ejection fraction measures the amount of blood pumped out of the ventricles. Tests such as Echocardiogram, MRI. EF lower than 40% indicates HF.

Question 4

What are the types of HF?

Answer 4

Left ventricle (most common)
Right Ventricle
Both

Question 5

List the signs and symptoms of the different types of HF.

Answer 5

Left ventricle: Comes from the lungs. SOB, wheezing, persistent cough, and the heart become enlarged.
Right Ventricle (deliver low O2 blood to get oxygenated): Loss of appetite, oedema, weight gain.
Both: Fatigue, Confusion, Nocturia

Question 6

What are the medications for HF?

Answer 6

ACE inhibitors (bind to SM of the ventricles and relax them decreasing BP)
Angiotensin receptor blockers, treat high BP and HF.They stop the angiotensin II proteins from binding to narrow the ventricles.

Beta-blockers (Metoprolol) Decrease contractility and lower BP
Aldosterone receptor antagonist: Prevents the reabsorbtion of sodium increasing water loss/ lowering the BP. (Cause lower levels of sodium)

Question 7

Management of HF

Answer 7

Education and support: Lifestyle changes, vaccinations, awareness
Self medications: Diuretics (prevent fluid overload (don’t use with ACE). S+S control. BP management.