Signs and symptoms of heart failure. Stages of heart failure. Treatment of heart failure in adults, children and the elderly - drugs, therapy

Heart failure is a heart disease that affects its functions, as a result of which, tissues and systems of organs suffer from oxygen hunger and blood circulation disorders. This disease affects the elderly, preferably men, as well as those who lead a wrong lifestyle.

According to statistics, heart failure is the main diagnosis for patients undergoing treatment in inpatient conditions. Also, this disease can be chronic. In total, 4 stages of development of heart failure are distinguished, but the first stage is almost asymptomatic.

Heart failure: symptoms and signs

At different stages of aggravation of the disease, a person acquires more and more tangible signs. However, heart failure in men and heart failure in women has different symptoms, as well as various causes that provoke the disease. The main signs of the disease can be considered:

• Attacks of suffocation and night cough.
• Fast fatigue.
• Weakness and dizziness.
• Edema (as a rule, exacerbated in the evening).
• Reduction in daily diuresis.
• The development of ascite (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity).
• Pain in the right hypochondrium.
• Acropyanosis (a change in skin color, due to insufficient blood supply).
• Orthopnoe (the need to take an unnatural situation to relieve pain symptoms).
• Dyspnea.

Now let's talk about heart failure in children. In small children, this ailment has a number of more specific features. Which include:

• Frequent regurgitation in newborns.
• Pallor.
• Fast fatigue.
• Rapid pulse.
• Frequent cough, accompanied by wheezing in the lungs.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.
• Refusal of the chest.
• Increased sweating.
• Darkening in the eyes.
• Disorders of sleep regime and insomnia.

Very often the disease manifests itself through swelling. Edema for heart failure is characteristic of people of all ages. Often this symptom is taken as ordinary excess fluid in the body, however, having concomitant signs, do not hesitate to visit the doctor.

• Such a harmless symptom, like swelling, is characteristic of the first and second stage of the disease, in which the course of treatment is less long and much more effective.
• Coughing in heart failure is also attributed to the first signs of heart function disorders. This is due to a lack of oxygen in the blood, which provokes a feeling of suffocation and reduction of the lungs.
• In order to determine whether the disease is a cardiological character, it is important to analyze other symptoms. For example, shortness of breath in heart failure is the first sign indicating the presence of a disease. Most often, it occurs during sports, as well as active movements. But gradually appears at rest. It is this symptom that is characteristic of the heart failure of the first stage. With timely treatment, the disease does not acquire the character of chronic and will not bear more serious complications.

Causes of heart failure

Depending on the age of the patient, as well as the quality of his nutrition and lifestyle, several factors provoking the occurrence of diseases can be distinguished. The main reasons why cardiovascular failure appears: include:

1. Lung diseases.
2. Congenital heart defects.
3. Reception of narcotic substances.
4. Frequent alcohol consumption.
5. Anemia.
6. Hyperthyroidism.
7. The presence of infections in the body.
8. Renal failure.

In addition, heart failure in old age has a number of special causes. In the risk zone, those who had such diseases:

• Transferred heart attack.
• Ischemic disease.
• Heart rhythm disturbances.
• Myocardial diseases.
• Diabetes.
• High blood pressure.
• Heart valves.

Types and degree of heart failure

There are 3 degrees of aggravation of the disease. All of them have a special symptoms, starting from which the doctor selects individual methods of treatment. Acute heart failure is characterized by a sharp deterioration in the patient’s condition due to a decrease in the effectiveness of the function of heart contraction and its excessive load.

Depending on whether a violation of work arose in the right or left ventricle, a number of characteristic symptoms are highlighted. Right -yielding insufficiency includes:

• Increase in the size of the liver.
• Yellowness.
• Swelling.
• Swelling of veins on the neck.

With levojuleodochkoye, the following symptoms appear:

• Strong shortness of breath.
• Selection of foam from the mouth or nose.
• The hoarse in the lungs.
• Dry or foamy cough (less often with sputum).

It is also worth saying that in the absence of proper treatment, chronic heart failure develops. It is characterized by the main symptoms that are observed over a long time without improving well -being. Most often, the disease is a consequence of arterial hypertension or coronary disease. There are 4 stages of chronic heart failure:

1. I FC proceeds almost without symptoms, not displaying on human activity.
2. II FC is characterized by the appearance of shortness of breath, fatigue and angina pectoris in physical exercises, as well as walking.
3. III FC interferes with sports, and also exacerbates all the symptoms with minor loads.
4. IV FC does not allow a person to move, as well as engage in any activity, since angina pectoris and fatigue are manifested even in a state of complete rest.

There is also congestive heart failure.

• Accompanied by attacks of suffocation, shortness of breath, pain in the right hypochondrium, cyanosis and edema of the lower extremities.
• Often, patients complain of increasing the abdomen in volume, which is characteristic of the accumulation of fluid in the cavity. In treatment, the doctor selects not only medications aimed at improving the work of the heart, but also diuretics that effectively save the body from excessive water.
• In the absence of therapy, a deterioration in the condition is possible. Complications are characterized by blood clots, mixed acidosis, hyponatremia, metabolic alkalosis, cardiogenic shock

Heart failure: diagnosis

In order to make a diagnosis correctly, the cardiologist prescribes a number of diagnostic procedures that allow you to determine the stage of development of the disease, as well as choose an effective course of drugs. As methods of diagnosis, they use:

• Ultrasound of the heart.
• Electrocardiography.
• Chest x -ray.
• General blood test (biochemical and clinical).
• Echocardiography.
• Coronarography.

In the case of concomitant diseases, as well as infections, the doctor may prescribe a course of general strengthening medicines and consultation with other specialized doctors in order to prevent a deterioration in the condition.

Treatment of heart failure

Help in heart failure is achieved when using an integrated approach. After all, not only drug therapy has a significant effect on the health of the patient.

• The patient is also prescribed a diet with a high potassium content and with a decrease in salt and fluid intake.
• Medications can be prescribed to expand the vessels for better blood patency.
• Preparations for heart failure are selected individually, given the concomitant diseases, patient age, allergies and other factors.
• The doctor will also limit or recommend increasing the amount of physical activity to prevent the development of blood clots and oxygen hunger.

Now regarding the question "how to treat heart failure." It is necessary to undergo complete diagnosis, as well as change your lifestyle. Indeed, in the absence of positive dynamics, surgical intervention is used. To increase the effectiveness of drug therapy, it is necessary to monitor the weight, refuse to consume tobacco products and alcohol, and also observe all the doctor's recommendations

Preparations that are used for treatment are divided into:

• Beta blockers.
• Glycosides.
• Diuretics.

Timely therapy for heart failure allow a full -fledged lifestyle even to patients with a chronic stage.

• All medicines complement each other's functions and, with proper treatment, can save the patient from acute forms of this disease.
• For example, diuretics have a diuretic effect. Therefore, the liquid in the abdominal cavity and edema will pass in the first days after the start of taking the drugs. Beta blockers are aimed at normalizing blood pressure. And glycosides are used in acute forms for instant improvement of the condition.

Heart failure: folk treatment

Means of treatment of heart failure are also found in the advice of traditional medicine. Patients actively use them, insisting on high efficiency. However, do not share drug therapy and non -traditional methods. After all, using the knowledge of pharmaceuticals, as well as the experience of previous generations, you will not only significantly improve well -being, but also recover much faster.

• Our ancestors used the drugs of herbs, various lotions, tinctures and decoctions as medicines. Many people are still actively using herbal medicine against various diseases.
• For example, Tibeta sages know that with daily use of nuts, raisins and hard cheese, the state of the heart will improve much.

• It is also useful to make vitaminized paste. To prepare it, you need to take dried apricots, prunes, raisins and a handful of any nuts. Dry fruits must be chopped. It is worth storing this product in the refrigerator.
• It is recommended to use 1 tbsp. In the morning and evening, on an empty stomach. Such a tool will not only improve heart function due to the rich content of vitamins and trace elements, but also help to cope with colds.

The recommendations of traditional medicine really help patients achieve amazing results in treatment. However, drug therapy plays a key role in the struggle for life. A decoction of watermelon crusts, rosehips, hawthorn, pumpkin and wheat porridge are not able to significantly change blood coagulation and strengthen the heart muscle. But with a combination of these products with complete treatment, you will feel a surge of strength and get rid of the accompanying symptoms much faster.

Prevention of heart failure

In order to improve the functioning of the heart and patency of blood vessels, as well as prevent cardiological diseases, it is necessary to adhere to the general recommendations of a healthy lifestyle:

• Regularly undergo a complete medical examination.
• Refuse alcohol and smoking.
• Reduce the amount of harmful fats and salt in the diet.
• Include in your menu products rich in potassium (bananas, pumpkin, liver, apples, melon, tomatoes, garlic, apricots).
• Reduce the consumption of tea and coffee, giving preference to herbal infusions.
• To increase physical activity (yoga, dancing, walking at a moderate pace are suitable even for those who do not have a love of sports).
• Exclude stress.
• Follow the weight.

Regarding the forecast for heart failure - it is the most different and depends on the stage of the disease.

• In a chronic disease, as a rule, patients die from sudden death. Also in people who have this diagnosis increased risk of developing myocardial infarction and thrombophlebitis.
• With regular observation by a cardiologist, as well as compliance with all recommendations, the forecast improves significantly. After all, modern drugs allow maintaining the optimal condition without exacerbations, and in the first stages they help to get rid of heart failure completely.

However, patients of several categories are at risk:

• People over 60 years old.
• Men.
• Residents of industrial cities with poor ecology.
• Patients with concomitant diseases and excess weight.

According to statistics around the world, a huge number of people die from heart failure. Therefore, prevention and timely treatment will not only improve the general condition of a person, but also prevent complications, significantly extending the life of the patient. Follow your health, do not ignore the signals of your body and be healthy!

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