is the treatment for CHF the same for high cholesterol?

Hello Jennifer,

Not exactly.

High cholesterol is treated with cholesterol lowering medications, like statins (e.g. simvistatin).  The reason to treat high cholesterol is to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and coronary artery (the arteries that supply the heart) disease among others.

CHF (congestive heart failure) is commonly (although not exclusively) a result of long-standing coronary disease, high blood pressure and many other factors.  The treatment at CHF is many-fold.  First, one must treat the symptoms of the disease, which include shortness of breath, and edema in the extremities.  This is accomplished by diuretics, which include lasix, and spironolactone.  Secondly, an ACE inhibitor (lisinopril-like drugs) and a beta-blocker (metoprolol-like drugs) are started.  Thirdly, patients with heart failure benefit from an implanted defibrillator (a device something like a pace maker).

So, basically, the treatment for the two diseases are not exactly related.  Both involve diseases of the heart, but lowering high cholesterol does not help heart failure.

I hope this helps.

To your health,

Neil MD