what are some treatments for congestive heart failure?

Answer 1

In heart failure, the heart muscle does not contract fully so basically the heart does not work as an effective pump. There is a back flow of blood in the blood vessels. This eventually causes swelling in the legs and even potentially in the lungs.
Elevating the legs can reduce the swelling in the lower limbs.

The main types of drug treatments are diuretics. or water tablets.
These make the kidneys produce more urine so reducing any fluid that causes swelling. Such examples include furosimide.

Another type is called an ACE inhibitor. These work directly in the kidneys, producing a mild diuretic effect and reducing the amount of salt in the blood. This in turns reduces blood volume so that the heart does not have to work so hard.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Water pills, the diuretic someone else mentioned, helps the body emove excess fluids, especially those that are in the tissues surrounding the heart.

The pressure from these fluids make the heart work harder than it has to, literally tireing it out faster than it needs to. It is a condition not unlike ordinary muscle fatigue. This condition is called congestive heart failure

On the one hand, the name sounds more serious than it is, on the othe hand, if left untreated, the heart ultimately DOES fail and, well, .....

Water pills are a fairly benign treatment, the worst side effect is that it makes one pee often, and with a great intensity. When the bladder fills, it is VERY insistant. People on a diuretic are usually prescribed a potassium supplement, since much of the body's needed salts to out with the urine, and must be replaced. While a good nutritious source of potassium is in fruit, the fruit does not provide as much as is sent out.

Congestive heart failure is REVERSABLE, with proper treatment.

Will someone tell "brodie" to back off and quit giving advice he knows nothing about. A diuretic is NOT a blood thinner. A blood thinner has a completely different function. Perhaps it is HIM that needs to find a different medical provider.

Or perhaps it is better that he doesn't.

Answer 4

There are many treatments for heart failure, both acute and chronic, ranging from drugs to implantable defibrillators. The treatment of heart failure comprises a specialty all to itself within cardiology, so nobody can even hope to give you a thorough answer to that question in this space, but I will give a very brief overview.
For chronic heart failure, several agents have been shown in large randomized trials to decrease mortality (the people with heart failure who use them live longer). These drugs are beta blockers (especially coreg, though toprol also has an indication for CHF), ACE inhibitors, the combination of hydralazine and a nitrate (especially, for some reason, in blacks - this is controversial but the evidence seems to support it), and, for severe heart failure, spironolactone. Diuretics are also used, though they may only reduce symptoms.
Also, for the most severe cases, whether the failure originates with a heart attack or not, an implantable defibrillator can also extend life.
For acute heart failure the treatment of choice is diuretics, most often high dose and IV. For very severe cases sometimes inotropes (drugs that cause the heart to contract more vigorously) are used, but it's unclear if they actually make anyone live longer.

Answer 5

1. lasix, or bumex, or other diuretics, beta blockers
2. low salt diet
3. daily weights
4. oxygen
much of it depends if you are in active CHF or preventing another episode.
Hope that helps. I am an RN, but in the Oncology field. Also, Defibrillators are used for arrythmia's, not congestive heart failure. Dont know where that answerer got that one.

Answer 6

treatment for congestive heart failure includes rest, oxygen, heart meds. as digitalis which slows the heart and strengthens the beat, diuretics, a low salt diet, and in some cases a angiotensin-converting enzyme (ace) inhibitors are used. Also high blood pressure needs to be controlled.
surgery to replace or correct a fulty heart valve or repair an aneruysm may also be done

Answer 7

There are various stages of CHF. ACE inhibitors are drug of choice for treatment of CHF- as long as your kidney's can tolerate them. If ACE inhibitors are not tolerated, the ARB's, or certain Beta Blockers, and diuretics. The key is to keep your blood pressure under control, so that your heart does not have to work extra hard.

Also there are underlying causes of CHF like anemia, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, renal disease, liver disease, lung disease, medications; which should be identified and corrected.

Answer 8

Many people who see their doctor are put on some type of diuretic, like lasix. By limiting salt, watching your diet and medication, many people live very normal lives with CHF.

Dont risk trying to treat it yourself, go see your doctor and get some medication that will help you out.

Answer 9

Lasix (diuretic), decrease salt intake, don't stand too long, keep your feet up to decrease dependent edema (swelling). Must be treated by a physician.

Answer 10

Check this site for more information on CHF

http://drugcoatedstents.blogspot.com/