Question

what are the goal treatments of heart failure? Hint:veins do not get plaque.

Answer 1

Heart Failure

Heart failure is also known as congective heart failure which occurs when the heart muscle does not pump the blood as well it should.

Treatment of heart failure

1. Medical treatment
2. Surgical treatment

Medical treatment

• Angiotensin-converting Enzyme inhibitors

It helps to widen the blood vessels to lower the blood pressure,improves blood flow and decrease the workload on heart.

Eg: Enapril

• Angiotensin II receptor blockers

These drugs which include Iosartan (cozaar) and Valsartan (Diovan),have many of the samr benefits ace inhibitors.

• Beta Blockers

These drugs slows the heart rate and reduce the blood pressure.

Eg: Carvedilol( Coreg).

• Diuretics

It is also called water pills which make freequent urination and keep fluid from collecting in the body.

Eg: Furosemide

• Aldosterone antagonists

These are potossium sparing diuretics which also have additional properties that may help people with severe systolic heart failure live longer.

Eg: Spironolactone

• Inotropes

These are IV medications used in people with severe heart failure to improve heart pumping function and maintain BP.

• Digoxin(Lanoxin)

These drugs refers as digitalis which increases the strength of heart muscle contractions and also slow the heartbeat. Digoxin reduces heart failure symptoms in systolic heart failure which may be more likely to be given to patient with heart rhythm problam, such as atrialfibrillation.

Surgical Treatment

• Coronary bypass surgery

It is procedure in which the blood vessels from the leg , arm or chest bypass ablocked artery in the heart to allow blood to flow through heart more freely which is done in blocked arteries are contributing to heart failure.

• Heart valve repair or replacement

When the faulty heart valve causes heart failure, The doctor may recommend repairing or replacing the valve . The surgeon can modify the orginal valve to eliminate backward blood flow. Surgeons can also repair the valve by reconnceting valve leaflets by removing excess valve tissues so that leaflets can close tightly. sometimes repairing the valve includes tightening or replacing the ring around the valve ( annuloplasty).

Valve replacement is done when valve repair is not possible. In this procedure the damaged valve is replaced by an artificial (prosthetic) valve.

• Implantable Cardioverter- Defibrillators ( ICDs)

It is a device similar to pacemaker. it is implanted under the skin in the chest with wires leading through the vein and into the heart. The ICD monitors the heart rhythm. If the heart starts beating at a dangerous rhythm or stops beating , the ICD tries to pace the heart or shock it back in to normal rhythm.

• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), or biventricular pacing.

It sents time electrical impulses to both the heart's lower chambers (Left & Right ventricles) so that they pump in more efficient, coordinated manner.

• Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)

It is also known as mechanical circulatory support device,is an implantable mechanical pump that helps pumps blood from the lower chambers of the heart to the rest of the body.A VAD is implanted into the abdomen or chest and attached to a weakened heart to help it pump blood to the rest of the body.

• Heart Transplant

It is done in a person person with severe heart failure,that surgery or medications don't help.They may need to have their diseased heart replaced with a helathy donor heart.