Heart Failure

Question 1

what is heart failure

Answer 1

output of the heart is incapable of meeting the demands of the tissues

Question 2

what is high output failure?

Answer 2

demands of the system have increased beyond the capacity of the pump

Question 3

what is low output failure?

Answer 3

pump is failing and not strong enough to force liquid around the body

Question 4

what diseases are related to high output failure?

Answer 4

anaemia, thyrotoxicosis

Question 5

what diseases are related to low output failure?

Answer 5

cardiac defects e.g., MI, valve disease

Question 6

what is congestive heart failure

Answer 6

failure on both sides

Question 7

what is systolic dysfunction?

Answer 7

blood cannot be pumped out

Question 8

what does diastolic dysfunction indicate?

Answer 8

valvular disease

Question 9

what are the causes of low output failure?

Answer 9

heart muscle disease, pressure overload, volume overload, arrhythmias, drugs

Question 10

what diseases contribute to pressure overload?

Answer 10

hypertension and aortic stenosis

Question 11

what drugs contribute to low output failure?

Answer 11

B blockers, corticosteroids, anticancer drugs

Question 12

what is the heart failure compensation mechanism?

Answer 12

this is when the heart is not coping with the volume of blood in circulation but the pressure of the blood in the aorta adds more blood to the heart so it makes it worse. the body automatically increases the volume of blood

Question 13

what do symptoms and signs of heart failure depend on?

Answer 13

side mainly affected

Question 14

what are the signs and symptoms for left side heart failure?

Answer 14

lungs and systolic effects - dyspnoea, tachycardia, low BP, low volume, low pulse

Question 15

what are the signs and symptoms for right side heart failure?

Answer 15

venous pressure elevated so swollen ankles, ascites, raised JVP, tender enlarged liver, poor GI absorption

Question 16

what are the common symptoms of heart failure

Answer 16

shortness of breath, swollen or tender abdomen, swelling of feet and legs, cough with frothy sputum, chronic lack of energy, increased nocturnal urination, difficult sleeping due to breathing problems, confusion and or impaired memory

Question 17

what is pitting oedema?

Answer 17

fluid accumulation in superficial tissues which can be squeezed about

Question 18

what does it mean if pitting oedema is found high up e.g., thigh?

Answer 18

the heart failure is worse

Question 19

what is the acute treatment of heart failure?

Answer 19

emergency hospital management with oxygen, morphine and frusemide

Question 20

what is acute heart failure?

Answer 20

lungs are filled with fluid

Question 21

what is chronic treatment of heart failure?

Answer 21

improve myocardial function, reduce compensation effects, where possible treat the cause

Question 22

how do you treat acute heart failure?

Answer 22

high dose diuretic to remove the fluid and breathing returns to normal

Question 23

what do you treat first with heart failure?

Answer 23

any underlying cause e.g., hypertension, valve disease, anaemia, thyroid disease

Question 24

what drugs are used in chronic heart failure

Answer 24

diuretics, ACE inhibitor, nitrates, inotropes

Question 25

what should you stop taking if you present with heart failure?

Answer 25

B blockers (negative inotropes)