Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a gradual reduction of the heart’s pumping capacity. CHF is a condition that usually starts many years before it’s ever noticed and gets progressively worse over time. The heart tries to compensate for lost capacity by getting bigger and by pumping faster. In order to make sure that the most important organs—the heart and the brain—have adequate blood supply, the body diverts blood away from other less-important organs. At the same time, the body starts retaining fluids, which back up into the lungs and other parts of the body.
About
Heart failure can have many causes, but the most common ones are:
- Narrowing or blockage of the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle.
- Heart attack, which causes scar tissue that weakens the heart and keeps it from working as well as it should.
- High blood pressure, which makes the muscles in the heart thicken so that the heart doesn’t pump efficiently and must work harder.
- Damaged heart valves, which can make some blood move through the heart in the wrong direction, resulting in an enlarged heart that doesn’t pump as well.
- Diseases of the heart muscle itself (called cardiomyopathy).
- Defects of the heart from birth (also known as congenital heart defects).
- Infection of the heart valves (called endocarditis).
- Infection of the heart muscle (called myocarditis).
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND SEXUAL HEALTH
Most people with heart failure can continue to enjoy sexual relations once their symptoms are under control, but it is necessary to keep constant communication with your cardiologist and primary care physician to ensure all medications are working properly and no other symptoms are appearing. The cardiologist may perform multiple stress tests during the office visit to assess the amount of activity your heart could substantially handle.
FYI
Over 3 million men currently suffer from CHF and about 350,000 more are diagnosed each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people 65 years and older.
Symptoms
If you or a family member has heart failure, chances are you’ve already made a trip to emergency room, or at least spent some time in the hospital. You can decrease the chances of another hospital stay by calling your healthcare provider right away if any of these warning signs appear.
- Sudden weight gain (3 or more pounds in one day, 5 or more pounds in one week, or whatever amount your healthcare provider told you to report).
- Shortness of breath (a feeling of not getting enough air) when you are not active
- Increased swelling of your feet, ankles, and legs
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen (stomach)
- Trouble sleeping (waking up short of breath, needing to use more pillows than usual)
- Fatigue, weakness, or tiring very easily
- Confusion or can’t think clearly
- Repeated, dry cough, especially when you are lying down
- Coughing or wheezing when you are active
- Coughing up pink or bloody mucus
- Dizziness or feeling like you might pass out
- The need to urinate many times at night
- Loss of appetite
- Low blood pressure
- Faster heart beat (may feel like the heart is racing)
Prevention
There is no cure for heart failure. However, if you manage it correctly, you can live a long, healthy, productive life. But it is very important for a person who has heart failure to carefully manage it by making lifestyle changes; such as:
- Follow a low-sodium eating plan
- Get regular, mild physical activity
- Stop smoking
- Lose weight, if overweight
- Drink very little alcohol, if any at all
Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider
- It’s important that you become proactive in your healthcare in order for you to get the best treatment. Here are some questions you can ask your healthcare provider about Congestive Heart Failure.
- What is my diagnosis?
- Is the heart failure mild, moderate, or severe?
- What are the treatment options for my condition? What side effects and benefits for each treatment option.
- What is likely to happen without treatment?
- Will I need to have surgery? If so, how long does it take to recovery from surgery?
- How will my daily life be affected? Can I still work, play sports, have sex, and do household chores?
- What are the most important things I can do to manage this condition?
- What types of foods should I eat and what should I avoid?
Treatments
For most people, heart failure is a life-long condition that cannot be cured, however there are steps your healthcare provider can take to manage your condition.
Your healthcare provider’s goal will be to:
- Treat any underlying causes, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes
- Reduce any symptoms you may experience
- Stop the heart failure from getting worse
- Improve your quality of life
In some cases where there is a specific cause of heart failure, such as damaged valves, surgery may be possible to replace the valves. People with an abnormal heart rhythm may be able to have treatment, such as a pacemaker, to correct the problem.
If you have Congestive Heart Failure, you will probably need treatment for the rest of your life. You and your healthcare provider will need to work together to find the most effective treatments that you can manage in the long-term so you have the best quality of life possible.
Resources
For more information on heart failure visit:
American Heart Association
Medline Plus
Men’s Health Network