Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Congestive heart failure - left
Treatment
The goals of treatments are:
- Treat the disease that is causing the heart failure
- Reduce symptoms
- Relieve stress on the heart
- Reduce risks of worsening heart failure
You should see a heart specialist. You may need to stay in the hospital when symptoms are severe.
Treatment may involve surgery or
Persons with heart failure should eat less salt, avoid alcohol, and exercise moderately.
Medicines that may be used include:
- Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) or spironolactone (Aldactone) to help the body get rid of extra fluid
- Beta blockers and ACE inhibitors to reduce the stress on the heart and to prevent further muscle damage and scarring
- Digoxin to increase muscle strength and slow down abnormally fast heart rates
In severe cases, medicines are given through an IV (intravenous) line in your arm.
When heart function decreases significantly, a defibrillator may be recommended to prevent sudden cardiac death. A defibrillator is used to prevent dangerous heart rhythms, which often occur in people with very weak hearts.
A number of studies have shown that heart failure symptoms can be improved with a special type of pacemaker. It paces both the right and left sides of heart. This is referred to as biventricular pacing or cardiac resynchronization therapy. Ask your provider if you are a candidate for this.
In very severe cases, when medicines alone do not work, a heart pump (ventricular assist device) can be implanted. A heart transplant may be needed.
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Review Date: 07/17/2006
Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine,
New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed
Healthcare Network.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
