Do you know the symptoms of 'acute heart failure'?

 

Acute heart failure causes a variety of symptoms in the body, such as chest palpitations, tightness, fatigue, and edema due to a decrease in the pumping function of the heart. In this article, we will explain what acute heart failure is, its typical symptoms and causes, the department to be examined, and treatments.

What is acute heart failure?

The heart functions as a 'pump' that pumps blood to muscles and organs throughout the body. Specifically, the function is to send oxygenated blood to the lungs from the heart to the body, and return the blood that has circulated throughout the body to the heart and return it to the lungs.

Heart failure is a condition in which this pump does not work well for some reason and causes a variety of symptoms in the body. In addition, this sudden onset of heart failure, or sudden worsening of symptoms, is a condition called acute heart failure. Acute heart failure is caused by diseases such as myocardial infarction, and the pump function rapidly decreases, resulting in symptoms such as tightness, palpitations, loss of appetite, and swelling.

Symptoms of acute heart failure

What are the symptoms of acute heart failure?

The heart is divided into left and right by a wall called a septum, and the symptoms are different: left heart failure, where heart failure occurs on the left side, and right heart failure, where heart failure occurs on the right side. The main symptoms are heart palpitations, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, edema, and weight gain. Of these, 'breathing kick' and 'leg swelling' appear a lot in the early stages, so if you start to worry about these symptoms, we recommend seeing a specialist.

left heart failure symptoms

What are the symptoms of left heart failure?

In the case of left heart failure, breathing difficulties, chest palpitations, and fatigue appear during exercise in the early stages, but most are asymptomatic during rest. If it becomes severe, breathing difficulties or sitting breathing (if you do not raise your head, you cannot sleep because it is stuffy) occur at night, and furthermore, it is accompanied by palpitations and tightness even at rest.

Left heart failure causes 'stasis' in which the blood sent from the lungs collects in the heart, and the congestion eventually extends to the lungs as well. As a result, gas exchange in the lungs becomes poor, and these symptoms appear.

What are the symptoms of right heart failure?

Right heart failure is characterized by symptoms such as anorexia, constipation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, swelling of the limbs, and weight gain. The right heart has the function of sending the returned blood to the lungs, but if the function deteriorates due to right heart failure, it becomes difficult for the blood to return to the whole body and these symptoms appear. In addition, if the amount of blood pumped out of the heart is insufficient, symptoms such as fatigue, exhaustion, cold hands and feet, decreased urine output, and decreased memory and concentration are likely to occur.

Causes of acute heart failure

Heart failure is not a disease, but a condition in which the pumping function of the heart is reduced, and the disease that leads to that condition is a factor that causes heart failure. The representative diseases are 'ischemic heart disease', 'hypertension', and 'valvular heart disease'. Of these three, in particular, many are ischemic heart disease. In addition, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, congenital heart disease, arrhythmia, and systemic diseases such as sleep apnea and diabetes can also cause acute heart failure.

What is ischemic heart disease?

It is a disease in which blood vessels in the heart are narrowed due to hardening of the arteries or blood clots, preventing blood from being transmitted to the heart muscle. When the heart is under a load due to heavy exercise or stress, blood flow to the heart muscle is temporarily insufficient, resulting in strong pain and pressure in the chest and back.

A typical example is 'angina pectoris' or 'myocardial infarction', but myocardial infarction is a particularly high risk of heart failure. When the heart lacks blood supply with ischemic heart disease, it reduces pumping ability, increasing the risk of heart failure.

heart valve disease

What is heart valve disease?

The heart is equipped with 'valves' that prevent the backflow of blood. Cardiac valvular disease is a disease that interferes with the pumping function of the heart due to stenosis (narrowing) or obstructive failure (not closing well) due to aging, infection, trauma, or congenital factors.

Typical examples include 'aortic valve stenosis', 'atrial valve stenosis', 'tricuspid valve stenosis', 'aortic insufficiency', and 'aortic valve insufficiency'. In any disease, the valves do not function properly and the heart is put too much strain, making it easy to develop left and right heart failure.

High blood pressure

Why does high blood pressure increase my risk of acute heart failure?

Blood pressure is the pressure at which blood pumped from the heart presses against the blood vessels. When you have high blood pressure, your heart muscle gets bigger and harder because your heart always has to push blood with great pressure. If the blood pressure continues there, the heart muscle is exhausted and the pump function is also impaired, making it easier to develop heart failure.

If symptoms suggest acute heart failure, which department should I see?

First of all, go to the nearest 'circulatory organ' or 'circulatory internal medicine department'. However, in acute heart failure, a sudden drop in blood pressure can sometimes lead to shock. In such a case, please call an ambulance immediately.

What tests are done for acute heart failure?

In acute heart failure, tests to examine the heart's function itself, such as contraction or expansion of the heart, and tests to evaluate the condition and future progress of heart failure are performed. Specifically, there are the following inspections.

• chest x-ray examination
• electrocardiogram
• heart CT
• cardiac MRI
• echocardiography
• cardiac catheter examination
• blood test
• urine test

From the results of these tests, we will diagnose how heart failure occurs and what conditions it will lead to in the future, and we will select the appropriate treatment.

What is the treatment for acute heart failure?

Since most acute heart failure is caused by chronic diseases such as ischemic heart disease or high blood pressure, these diseases are first improved. Specific examples include lifestyle improvement, diet, drug therapy, and the installation of implantable assistive devices.

On the other hand, during acute heart failure, even when blood pressure is maintained, there are many cases in which shock or cardiac arrest is rapidly reached, or the patient is transported in that state. In such a case, priority is given to life-saving measures, and measures are taken to improve breathing difficulties and long-term congestion (the state in which blood accumulates in the heart).

Are there gender differences and age differences in acute heart failure?

The average age of onset of acute heart failure is 70 to 73 years, and it is most common in people in their 60s to 80s. There is no significant gender difference, but it tends to be somewhat higher in men.

organize

Heart failure refers to a condition that causes various symptoms in the body due to a decrease in the pumping function of the heart, and when these symptoms occur rapidly, it is called acute heart failure. Typical diseases that cause acute heart failure include ischemic heart disease, high blood pressure, and heart valve disease. Acute heart failure is accompanied by various symptoms, such as palpitations or tightness, fatigue, swelling of the limbs, and weight gain. If acute heart failure is suspected as a symptom, see the nearest cardiologist and cardiologist. Also, some acute heart failure can lead to a state of shock or cardiac arrest due to a sudden drop in blood pressure. Call an ambulance promptly if symptoms that require urgency appear.