Learn about Congestive Heart Disease

Congestive heart disease results in poor blood circulation to the body organs, thus impairing the various functions of the body. Congestive heart disease leads to heart failure as a result of direct damage to the heart tissue and reduced oxygen supply due to the constricted arteries. Causes of congestive heart disease include high blood pressure, rheumatic fever and alcoholism. Symptoms of congestive heart disease include swelling of feet, ankle, legs and stomach, edema, breathlessness and kidney problems.

There are various means of diagnostic for congestive heart disease. Basically, they check for irregular heartbeat and abnormal noise in the lungs, an enlarged neck veins, liver and heart; swelling in the abdomen and limbs. As a confirmation check, blood tests are also used to check for anemia, cholesterol, blood sugar kidney, liver, and thyroid function.

Treatment for Congestive Heart Disease

Treatment often includes adequate rest, special diet and the use of various drugs. Patients should avoid salt intake and strictly limit their fluid intake. Different types of drugs are necessary to target the various symptoms of congestive heart disease. For example, angiotensin blocker lower the blood pressure, vasodilators expand the blood vessels for easier blood flow. Other drugs like beta-blocker improve the ventricle pump function of the heart while digitalis increases the heart pump rate. Diuretic is also prescribed to remove the excess water and salt from the body.

As congestive heart disease has many guises and forms, the treatment also varies. Surgery may be necessary in some cases. In the past, congestive heart disease often leads to death and permanent disability. With the advance in modern medicine, heart failure that results from congestive heart disease is treatable although heart transplant may be required for some patients. With proper care and treatment, many patients are able to resume most of their normal activities.

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