HEART FAILURE Flashcards
A type of heart
failure that occurs when the left
ventricle, the heart’s main pumping
chamber, is weakened and cannot pump
blood out to the body as efficiently as it
should. The EF is less than
or equal to 40%.
Heart failure with reduced ejection
fraction (HFrEF)
A measurement of how much blood the
left ventricle pumps out with each
contraction.
The ejection fraction (EF)
Types:
This is the type you
previously inquired about. In _______, the
left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping
chamber, is weakened and cannot pump
out blood as effectively as it should. The
EF is less than or equal to 40%.
Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection
Fraction (HFrEF)
Types:
The left ventricle has normal or even
above-normal EF (greater than or equal
to 50% according to some guidelines,
55% according to others). However, the
heart muscle is stiff or thickened, which
prevents it from filling properly with
blood between beats. This ultimately
reduces the heart’s ability to pump
blood effectively.
Heart Failure with Preserved
Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)
Additional Category:
This is a newer
category encompassing patients with
EF between 41% and 49% (or 40% to
49% depending on guidelines). They fall
in an intermediate zone between HFrEF
and HFpEF and may have
characteristics of both.
Heart Failure with Mid-range Ejection
Fraction (HFmrEF)
Signs and symptoms
General Symptoms:
● Fatigue and weakness: This is a
common symptom and can make it
difficult to perform everyday activities.
● Shortness of breath (dyspnea): This
can occur at rest or with exertion, and
may worsen at night when lying down
(orthopnea).
Signs and symptoms:
Fluid Buildup Symptoms:
● Swelling in the ankles, feet, and legs
(edema): This occurs because the heart
can’t pump blood effectively, leading to
fluid backup in the body.
● Rapid weight gain: This can be due to
fluid buildup.
● Frequent urination at night: The
body tries to get rid of excess fluid by
urinating more often at night.
Other symptoms of Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection fraction:
● Rapid or irregular heartbeat
(palpitations): This can be a sign of an
underlying heart rhythm problem.
● Reduced ability to exercise: You may
become easily fatigued during physical
activity.
● Chest pain (angina): This is less
common in HFrEF compared to heart
failure with preserved ejection fraction,
but it can still occur.
● Reduced appetite or nausea: Fluid
buildup in the abdomen can cause
discomfort and digestive issues.
● Confusion or difficulty
concentrating: This can be due to
decreased blood flow to the brain.
Medical Management:
These medications relax blood vessels,
lowering blood pressure and reducing
workload on the heart.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE and Angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs
Medical Management:
These medications
slow the heart rate and decrease the
heart’s workload, improving efficiency
Beta-blockers
Medical Management:
These medications
help the kidneys retain potassium while
eliminating sodium and excess fluid
buildup.
Mineralocorticoid receptor
antagonists (MRAs)
Medical Management:
This newer class of
medication helps remove excess
sugar and fluid in the urine,
offering additional benefits for
some HFrEF patients.
Sodium-glucose
cotransporter-2 inhibitors
(SGLT2i)
Medical Management:
This medication
specifically targets the heart rate,
slowing it down to improve efficiency in
some patients.
Ivabradine
Medical Management:
Iron
deficiency can worsen heart failure
symptoms. Doctors may recommend
______________ if needed.
Iron supplementation
This therapy coordinates the
contraction of the heart chambers for
better pumping efficiency, potentially
benefiting some HFrEF patients.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy
(CRT)
