Heart failure Flashcards
describe what heart failure(HF) is
the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the rest of the body due to a structural or mechanical problem affecting ventricular filling or ejection
give some risk factors for developing HF
male, increased age, smoking, diabetes
give some causes of HF
coronary artery disease(most common cause), hypertension, cardiomyopathies, arrythmias, valvular disease
what are some of the complications of HF
sudden cardiac death, cardiac arrythmias, chronic kidney disease, depression
describe what systolic HF is
when the heart cant pump forcefully enough, so SV is reduced and so ejection fraction is reduced
(defined as ejection fraction 35-40%)
describe what diastolic HF is
when the heart is pumping forcefully enough but there isn’t enough preload, ejection fraction is normal but SV and EDV are both low
what is the usual mechanism for left-sided HF
systolic HF, can’t pump blood forcefully enough
describe how the body tries to compensate for left-sided HF
by activating RAAS, and causing fluid retention in the lungs
what is the main complication of left-sided HF
pulmonary oedema, blood backs up in lungs as enough isn’t being pumped into systemic circulation
what symptoms/signs are seen with left-sided HF
dyspnoea, orthopneoa, basal crepitations, pulmonary oedema
what is often the cause of right-sided HF
left-sided HF, blood backs up all the way to right side of heart
what are the signs/symptoms seen in right-sided HF
pitting oedema, ascites(fluid in abdomen), hepatosplenomegaly, raised JVP
what are some general signs/symptoms of HF
light-headedness/syncope, tachycardia, pulse rhythm, laterally displaced apex beat, heart murmur/added sound
what are the main investigations done for HF
BNP measured, echocardiography, 12-lead ECG
