Definition: Failure of the heart to pump blood effectively, leading to low oxygen supply and fluid buildup in the body.
Types: Left-sided, Right-sided, Acute, Chronic, Systolic, Diastolic, High-output, Low-output.
CAUSES OF HEART
FAILURE
• Heart Disease (Most Common) → Coronary Artery
Disease (CAD), Hypertension, Valve Disease
• Other Causes → Anemia, Hyperthyroidism, Infections,
Alcohol, Pregnancy
Mnemonic:
"FAILURE" (Causes of Heart Failure)
- Faulty heart
valves (Aortic/Mitral disease)
- Arrhythmias
(Atrial fibrillation, Tachycardia)
- Ischemic
heart disease (Heart attack, CAD)
- Lung
diseases (COPD, Pulmonary Hypertension)
- Uncontrolled
hypertension
- Reduced
myocardial contractility (Cardiomyopathy)
- Endocarditis
& infections
TYPES OF HEART
FAILURE
1. LEFT-SIDED
HEART FAILURE (LUNG CONGESTION)
• Blood backs up in the lungs → Pulmonary edema,
breathlessness
• Causes: Hypertension, Aortic/Mitral Valve Disease, CAD
• Symptoms: Dyspnea, Orthopnea, Paroxysmal Nocturnal
Dyspnea (PND), Pulmonary Congestion
Mnemonic:
"DROWNING" (Left Heart Failure Symptoms)
- Dyspnea
(Breathlessness)
- Rales (Lung
Crackles)
- Orthopnea
(Difficulty Breathing While Lying Down)
- Weakness
& Fatigue
- Nocturnal
Dyspnea (Wakes up gasping)
- Increased
heart rate
- Nagging
Cough (Pink Frothy Sputum)
- Gaining
Weight (Fluid Retention)
2. RIGHT-SIDED
HEART FAILURE (BODY CONGESTION)
• Blood backs up in the body → Swelling in legs,
abdomen, liver congestion
• Causes: Left HF, Pulmonary Hypertension, Lung Diseases (Cor
Pulmonale)
• Symptoms: Swelling in legs, Jugular Venous
Distension (JVD), Hepatomegaly
Mnemonic:
"SWELLING" (Right Heart Failure Symptoms)
- Swelling of
legs & hands
- Weight gain
(Fluid Retention)
- Edema
(Pitting Type)
- Large
Jugular Vein (JVD)
- Lethargy
(Fatigue)
- Irregular
Heartbeat
- Nausea &
Anorexia
- Girth
Increased (Ascites)
3. SYSTOLIC vs.
DIASTOLIC FAILURE
|
Feature |
Systolic Failure
(Weak Pumping) |
Diastolic Failure (Poor
Relaxation) |
|
Main Problem |
Weak Contraction (↓
Ejection Fraction) |
Stiff Heart (Normal
EF, ↓ Filling) |
|
Causes |
Heart Attack,
Dilated Cardiomyopathy |
Hypertension,
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy |
|
Treatment |
ACE Inhibitors,
Beta-Blockers, Diuretics |
Control BP,
Diuretics, Beta-Blockers |
Mnemonic:
"SYSTOLIC = SQUISH, DIASTOLIC = STIFF"
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
OF HEART FAILURE
• Forward Failure → ↓ Blood Flow to Organs → Fatigue,
Kidney Failure, Low BP
• Backward Failure → Blood backs up → Lung or Body
Congestion
Mnemonic:
"FORWARD = FAILING FLOW, BACKWARD = BLOOD BACKUP"
DIAGNOSIS OF
HEART FAILURE
Clinical Signs & Symptoms
ECG → Detects Arrhythmias, Ischemia
Echocardiography (ECHO) → Checks Ejection
Fraction (EF)
BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) → Increased in HF
Chest X-ray → Shows Pulmonary Edema,
Cardiomegaly
Mnemonic:
"ECHO BNP CXR" (Tests for HF)
- ECHO → Heart
Function
- BNP →
Confirms HF
- CXR → Lung
Congestion
TREATMENT OF
HEART FAILURE
1. LIFESTYLE
CHANGES
- Reduce Salt & Fluid Intake
- Exercise Regularly (If Stable)
- Avoid Alcohol & Smoking
- Monitor Daily Weight (For Fluid Retention)
Mnemonic:
"LOW SALT, HIGH CARE"
2. MEDICATIONS
- Diuretics → Remove excess fluid (Furosemide, Spironolactone)
- ACE Inhibitors (Captopril, Enalapril) → Reduce BP & Afterload
- Beta-Blockers (Metoprolol, Carvedilol) → Reduce heart workload
- Digoxin → Improves heart contraction
Mnemonic:
"ABCD" (Drugs for HF)
- ACE
Inhibitors
- Beta-Blockers
- Contractility
Drugs (Digoxin)
- Diuretics
3. SURGICAL
TREATMENT
- Pacemaker → Helps with Irregular Heartbeats
- Heart Transplant → Last option for Severe HF
Mnemonic:
"PUMP FIX" (Pacemaker, Surgery, Transplant)
FINAL REVISION WITH MNEMONICS
- Causes = "FAILURE" (Faulty Valves, Arrhythmias, Ischemia, Lung Disease, Hypertension, Reduced Contractility, Endocarditis)
- Left HF = "DROWNING" (Dyspnea, Rales, Orthopnea, Weight Gain, Nocturnal Dyspnea, Increased HR, Nagging Cough, Gaining Weight)
- Right HF = "SWELLING" (Swelling, Weight Gain, Edema, Large JVP, Lethargy, Irregular HR, Nausea, Girth Increased)
- Diagnosis = "ECHO BNP CXR"
- Treatment = "ABCD" (ACE Inhibitors, Beta-Blockers, Contractility Drugs, Diuretics)
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