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Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
Heart Failure
• What is Heart Failure?– The heart is not pumping as well as it
should– Usually, the heart has been weakened
by an underlying condition• Blocked arteries• Heart attack • High blood pressure • Infections• Heart valve abnormalities
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What is Heart Failure?– Heart failure can involve the left or right
side of the heart or both– Usually the left side is affected first– Heart failure occurs when either side of
the heart cannot keep up with the flow of blood
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure• What is Heart Failure?
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What is Left Heart Failure?– Involves the left ventricle (lower
chamber) of the heart– Systolic failure• The heart looses it’s ability to contract or
pump blood into the circulation
– Diastolic failure• The heart looses it’s ability to relax because
it becomes stiff• Heart cannot fill properly between each beat
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What is Left Heart Failure?– Systolic and diastolic heart failure are
treated with different types of medications
– In both types, blood may “back up” in the lungs causing fluid to leak into the lungs (pulmonary edema)
– Fluid may also build up in tissues throughout the body (edema)
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What is Right Heart Failure?– Usually occurs as a result of left heart
failure– The right ventricle pumps blood to the
lungs for oxygen– Occasionally isolated right heart failure
can occur due to lung disease or blood clots to the lung (pulmonary embolism)
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• How fast does heart failure develop?– Usually a chronic disease– The heart tries to compensate for the
loss in pumping function by:• Developing more muscle mass• Enlarging• Pumping faster
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?– Health conditions that either damage
the heart or make it work too hard• Coronary artery disease• Heart attack• High blood pressure• Abnormal heart valves• Heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathy)• Heart inflammation (myocarditis)
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?• Congenital heart defects• Severe lung disease• Diabetes• Severe anemia• Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)• Abnormal heart rhythms
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?– Coronary artery disease• Cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in
the heart’s arteries• Less blood and oxygen reach the heart
muscle• This causes the heart to work harder and
occasionally damages the heart muscle
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?– Heart attack• An artery supplying blood to the heart
becomes blocked• Loss of oxygen and nutrients damages
heart muscle tissue causing it to die• Remaining healthy heart muscle must pump
harder to keep up
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?– High blood pressure• Uncontrolled high blood pressure doubles a
persons risk of developing heart failure• Heart must pump harder to keep blood
circulating• Over time, chamber first thickens, then gets
larger and weaker
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?– Abnormal heart valves– Heart muscle disease• Damage to heart muscle due to drugs,
alcohol or infections
– Congenital heart disease– Severe lung disease
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?– Diabetes• Tend to have other conditions that make the
heart work harder• Obesity• Hypertension• High cholesterol
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• What Causes Heart Failure?– Severe anemia
• Not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen• Heart beats faster and can become overtaxed with
the effort
– Hyperthyroidism• Body metabolism is increased and overworks the
heart
– Abnormal Heart Rhythm• If the heart beats too fast, too slow or irregular it may
not be able to pump enough blood to the body
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure– Shortness of Breath (dyspnea)• WHY?
– Blood “backs up” in the pulmonary veins because the heart can’t keep up with the supply an fluid leaks into the lungs
• SYMPTOMS– Dyspnea on exertion or at rest– Difficulty breathing when lying flat– Waking up short of breath
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure– Persistent Cough or Wheezing• WHY?
– Fluid “backs up” in the lungs
• SYMPTOMS– Coughing that produces white or pink blood-
tinged sputum
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure– Edema• WHY?
– Decreased blood flow out of the weak heart– Blood returning to the heart from the veins
“backs up” causing fluid to build up in tissues
• SYMPTOMS– Swelling in feet, ankles, legs or abdomen– Weight gain
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure– Tiredness, fatigue• WHY?
– Heart can’t pump enough blood to meet needs of bodies tissues
– Body diverts blood away from less vital organs (muscles in limbs) and sends it to the heart and brain
• SYMPTOMS– Constant tired feeling– Difficulty with everyday activities
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure– Lack of appetite/ Nausea• WHY?
– The digestive system receives less blood causing problems with digestion
• SYMPTOMS– Feeling of being full or sick to your stomach
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure– Confusion/ Impaired thinking• WHY?
– Changing levels of substances in the blood ( sodium) can cause confusion
• SYMPTOMS– Memory loss or feeling of disorientation– Relative or caregiver may notice this first
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure– Increased heart rate• WHY?
– The heart beats faster to “make up for” the loss in pumping function
• SYMPTOMS– Heart palpitations– May feel like the heart is racing or throbbing
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Class % of patients
Symptoms
I 35% No symptoms or limitations in ordinary physical activity
II 35% Mild symptoms and slight limitation during ordinary activity
III 25% Marked limitation in activity even during minimal activity. Comfortable only at rest
IV 5% Severe limitation. Experiences symptoms even at rest
Heart Failure
• Treatment Options– The more common forms of heart failure
cannot be cured, but can be treated• Lifestyle changes• Medications• Surgery
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Lifestyle changes– Stop smoking– Loose weight– Avoid alcohol– Avoid or limit caffeine– Eat a low-fat, low-sodium diet– Exercise
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Lifestyle changes– Reduce stress– Keep track of symptoms and weight and
report any changes or concern to the doctor
– Limit fluid intake– See the doctor more frequently
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Medications used to treat Heart Failure– ACE Inhibitors• Cornerstone of heart failure therapy• Proven to slow the progression of heart
failure• Vasodilator – cause blood vessels to
expand lowering blood pressure and the hearts work load
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Medications used to treat Heart Failure– Diuretics (water pills)• Prescribed for fluid build up, swelling or
edema• Cause kidneys to remove more sodium and
water from the bloodstream• Decreases workload of the heart and edema• Fine balance – removing too much fluid can
strain kidneys or cause low blood pressure
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Medications used to treat Heart Failure– Potassium• Most diuretics remove potassium from the
body• Potassium pills compensate for the amount
lost in the urine• Potassium helps control heart rhythm and
is essential for the normal work of the nervous system and muscles
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Medications used to treat Heart Failure– Vasodilators• Cause blood vessel walls to relax• Occasionally used if patient cannot tolerate
ACE• Decrease workload of the heart
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Medications used to treat Heart Failure– Digitalis preparations• Increases the force of the hearts
contractions• Relieves symptoms• Slows heart rate and certain irregular heart
beats
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Medications used to treat Heart Failure– Beta-blockers• Lower the heart rate and blood pressure• Decrease the workload of the heart
– Blood-thinners (coumadin)• Used in patients at risk for developing blood
clots in the blood vessels, legs, lung and heart• Used in irregular heart rhythms due to risk
of stroke
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation
Heart Failure
• Treatment options– Surgery and other Medical Procedures• Not often used in heart failure unless there
is a correctable problem• Coronary artery bypass• Angioplasty• Valve replacement• Defibrillator implantation• Heart transplantation• Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
Lifestyles, Fitnessand Rehabilitation