Acute heart failure

Acute heart failure is a disease that can lead to adverse consequences, even death, if appropriate therapeutic measures are not taken in time.

The essence of the pathology lies in the fact that normal blood circulation is disturbed due to stagnation of blood and failure of the functions of the heart muscle. According to statistics, this disease is one of the most dangerous, since in the absence of timely assistance it leads to death.

If you start treating acute heart failure in time, you can significantly improve the patient's condition and increase his chances of returning to normal life.

Reasons for development

Acute heart failure develops for various reasons. Doctors say that the main one is overload of the heart, because of which the body cannot cope with its work normally.

The following factors contribute to the development of the pathological process:

• myocardial infarction;
• surgical treatment of heart diseases;
• muscle inflammation;
• the use of a heart-lung machine;
• valve damage;
• hypertensive crisis;
• lung pathology;
• violation of the heart rhythm;
• infectious diseases;
• stroke;
• contamination of the body with toxic substances.

This is not the whole list of factors contributing to the development of acute heart failure. A large number of people are at risk.

Acute heart failure develops against the background of other pathologies more often in people aged 60 years and older. Those who abuse alcohol or are forced to take medications daily are susceptible to this disease. Patients diagnosed with hypertension, rheumatism, arrhythmia, and obesity are at risk.

Disease classification

The medical classification of AHF syndrome is based on the type of hemodynamics.

According to this principle, the disease is divided into the following types:

• stagnant type;
• cardiogenic shock;
• exacerbation of the chronic form.

Depending on the severity of the patient's condition and in which ventricle the congestive process is found, acute heart failure is classified into forms and stages of the disease.

At the initial stage of the development of the pathological process, there is every chance for a successful recovery.

If you do not pay attention to the symptoms or do not take the necessary measures, the situation ends very unfavorably, serious consequences are possible - up to a lethal outcome (death).

Forms

Most often, patients develop left ventricular failure. The main symptom of the disease is a failure of the heart rhythm (tachycardia), which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and a sharp deterioration in the psycho-emotional state. Also shortness of breath joins. If symptoms such as vomiting, snoring, foamy discharge are observed, this indicates the development of pulmonary edema. Frequent fainting is due to a lack of oxygen in the brain.

With right ventricular failure, the veins in the neck swell, the size of the liver or spleen increases.

The main reasons for the development of this form of the disease include:

• thromboembolism or pulmonary stenosis;
• irregular structure of the septum between the atria;
• chronic respiratory diseases;
• Ebstein's disease;
• exudative pericarditis.

AHF can be diagnosed by signs such as shortness of breath, tachycardia, and the appearance of edema. After the manifestation of primary symptoms, it is urgent to seek help from a specialist. With timely diagnosis and the rapid start of taking the appropriate drugs, there is every chance of a favorable prognosis.

stages

Heart failure progresses rapidly, in a short time can lead to serious consequences, cause the death of the patient.

Classification by stage is based on how advanced the disease is:

1. Initial stage. Appears very weakly. The patient's heart rate accelerates with increased physical exertion. At rest, there are no signs. Many people ignore this primary symptom, which leads to the development of complications and further progression of the pathological process. The prognosis is good if you see a doctor in a timely manner.
2. pronounced stage. At this stage, during the rest period, the patient may experience shortness of breath, an increase in heart rate, blood circulation is disturbed, there are edema, cyanosis, and hemodynamic failures.
3. Final stage. Against the background of impaired hemodynamic parameters, morphological changes in the internal organs begin to occur. The syndrome is accompanied by a metabolic failure, the development of liver cirrhosis, stagnant processes in the kidneys. Medications and physiotherapeutic procedures at this stage are ineffective, the prognosis is very disappointing.

The main cause of death in patients diagnosed with heart failure is ignoring the primary symptoms, untimely seeking help, non-compliance with the regimen prescribed by the attending physician, and failure to use the necessary drug.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of acute heart failure may differ depending on which stomach pathological disorders occur.

With the right ventricular form, the following symptoms are observed:

• shortness of breath at rest, bronchospasm, the consequence of which may be suffocation;
• pain in the region of the heart;
• change in skin color (cyanosis or yellowing);
• cold sweat;
• veins on the neck increase;
• the liver begins to grow, which is accompanied by pain in the hypochondrium;
• lowering blood pressure, heart rhythm failure;
• fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity.

With the syndrome of left ventricular failure, breathing is disturbed. Along with shortness of breath, a cough appears, in which foam with a pinkish tinge is separated, there are wheezing, blanching of the skin, and weakness.

Diagnosis of AHF

Before you start doing something, you need to accurately determine the type of disease, its type and stage. Diagnostics is mandatory in all cases.

During the medical examination of the patient, it is important not only to confirm or refute the diagnosis of "acute heart failure", but also to establish the causes of the development of the pathological process. Treatment and further prognosis will depend on this.

In cardiology, there is a list of techniques that are successfully used to diagnose heart failure syndrome. With their help, it is possible to determine pathological changes at the initial stage of development. This will help to start treatment on time, choose the right drug and improve the prognosis.

Required:

1. Consultation. The doctor needs to find out how the syndrome proceeds, what signs it is accompanied by. The patient reports whether he or his relatives had heart disease. It is also important for the treating doctor to know about the patient's lifestyle, his state of health (perhaps the person is taking any drug).
2. Inspection. The specialist measures the pulse, blood pressure, listens to the heart and lungs.
3. The next method is an electrocardiogram. With its help, violations in the work of the heart are determined.
4. General blood analysis. The doctor pays attention to the level of ESR and leukocytes.
5. General urine analysis. The level of blood cells and protein is taken into account.
6. Blood test for biochemical parameters (cholesterol, glucose).

In addition, a number of additional diagnostic techniques are carried out to confirm the diagnosis. This is an echocardiogram, MRI, visualization of the coronary vessels.

Treatment of acute heart failure

AHF syndrome is dangerous for human health and life, therefore, if symptoms of the disease are detected, you should immediately seek qualified help.

Acute heart failure in children has its own characteristics, so the treatment of the syndrome in such patients should be approached very carefully. Before taking any measures, administering drugs, it is necessary to carefully study the history, establish the causes, take into account the characteristics of the child's body.

With AHF syndrome, doctors take measures aimed at normalizing the patient's condition:

• if the heart rhythm is disturbed, it must be restored;
• after a myocardial infarction (which caused the development of AHF syndrome), a special drug is administered to restore blood circulation;
• in case of rupture of the heart muscle, an urgent operation is necessary;
• eliminate the causes of right ventricular failure (pulmonary thromboembolism, asthmatic attack);
• carry out oxygen therapy;
• narcotic substances with analgesic and sedative effects are introduced;
• a drug is used, the action of which is aimed at simulating the contractile activity of the myocardium;
• restore normal blood flow.

Especially dangerous is the AHF syndrome, which progresses at lightning speed. In this case, the medical team has a few minutes to save the patient's life. The forecast is given only after the completion of resuscitation measures.

Prevention

It is much easier to prevent the development of the disease than to eliminate its consequences later. To date, there is no specific prevention of acute heart failure syndrome, but the patient can still do something to avoid the development of this dangerous condition.

Prevention of AHF syndrome consists in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking and alcohol abuse, and correcting the diet. Before you start taking any drugs, you need to evaluate the ratio of risks and benefits to health. In addition, you should regularly undergo comprehensive examinations. This will help to diagnose and start treatment of the disease in time, which will significantly increase the chances of a favorable prognosis.