Heart Failure

Question 1

What are the types of cardiac disease?

Answer 1

Ischaemia and MI, Heart failure, Valvular Heart Disease, Pericarditis, Myocarditis, and Endocarditis, Cardiomyopathy

Question 2

What are the types of Vascular Disease?

Answer 2

Atherosclerosis, Aneurysms, Hypertension, Diabetic Vascular Disease, Vein Disease

Question 3

Definition of heart failure

Answer 3

the heart is unable to pump blood at a rate required for normal functioning

Question 4

What are the causes of heart failure?

Answer 4

ischaemic heart disease (predominantly), hypertension, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, CHD

Question 5

What happens in heart failure?

Answer 5

Initially the heart “compensates”. Leads to cardiac hypertrophy (thickening of myocardium) and/or dilation, and eventually the inability to maintain normal function.
Oedema - pulmonary and peripheral
Tiredness

Question 6

What are the symptoms heart failure?

Answer 6

Left sided - SOB
Right sided - leg swelling
Fatigue.

Question 7

What are the signs of heart failure?

Answer 7

Increased respiratory effort, crackles, raised jugular venous pressure (JVP), peripheral oedema, ascites (build up of fluid between two layers of the peritoneum), pulmonary effusion (excessive fluid builds up in the pleural cavity)

Question 8

What are the treatments for heart failure?

Answer 8

Treat the underlying cause. ACE inhibitors, B-blockers. Symptoms: loop diuretics, spironolactone, digoxin. Acutely high does IV diuretics (furosemide), O2.