Heart Weakness and Heart Failure

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height (determination of body mass index/body mass index); further: Inspection (viewing). Elevated jugular vein pressure/neck vein congestion? (Jugular venous congestion (JVD) or increased jugular venous pressure (JVP) is a sign of increased right … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Examination

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Test and Diagnosis

1st-order laboratory parameters-obligatory laboratory tests. Blood count (Hb < 9 g/dL – worse prognosis). Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein), preferably using a highly sensitive measurement method (hs-CRP) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Urine status (rapid test for: pH, leukocytes, nitrite, protein, glucose, ketone, blood), sediment, if necessary urine culture (pathogen detection and resistogram, that … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Test and Diagnosis

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Drug Therapy

Therapeutic Targets Improvement of symptomatology and “cardiac strength“. Improvement of the quality of life Therapy recommendations Oxygen administration; Indications: Patients with hypoxia (SpO2 <90%), dyspnea, or acute heart failure. Drug group Mechanism of action Acute HI Chronic HI ACE inhibitors/alternatively, if intolerantAngiotensin II receptor subtype 1 antagonists (synonyms: AT1 antagonists, “sartans“). Lowering preload/afterload – + … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Drug Therapy

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Diagnostic Tests

Obligatory medical device diagnostics in acute heart failure. Echocardiography (echo; cardiac ultrasound) – either transthoracic (“through the chest (thorax)”) or transesophageal (TEE; “through the esophagus (esophagus)”) [to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; pump function) and its wall thickness; Doppler-assisted examination for vitia (heart valve defects); estimation of pulmonary arterial pressure; exclusion or Detection of … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Diagnostic Tests

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Micronutrient Therapy

Heart failure may indicate a deficiency of the following vital nutrients (micronutrients). Vitamin B1 Within the framework of micronutrient medicine (vital substances), the following vital substances (micronutrients) are used for supportive therapy. Coenzyme Q10 L-Carnitine Heart failure may be associated with the risk of vital substance excess vitamin B1 and vitamin D. The above vital … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Micronutrient Therapy

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Surgical Therapy

Cardiac resynchronization (cardiac resynchronization therapy, CRT) Cardiac resynchronization (cardiac resynchronization therapy, CRT) is a new pacemaker procedure to resynchronize cardiac contraction for patients with heart failure (heart failure: NYHA stages III and IV) when drug therapy has been exhausted. This counteracts poor coordination between contraction and relaxation of the ventricles and improves blood flow, exercise … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Surgical Therapy

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Prevention

To prevent heart failure (heart failure), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors. Behavioral risk factors Diet Consumption of “red” meat products (men); women over 50 years of age. Low consumption of fruits and vegetables (women). High intake of sodium and table salt Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients. Consumption … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Prevention

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Complications

The following are the major diseases or complications that may be contributed to by heart failure (heart failure): Respiratory system (J00-J99) Pulmonary edema – accumulation of water in the lung tissue. Congestive bronchitis (chronic bronchitis with a constant cough). Blood, blood-forming organs – immune system (D50-D90). Iron deficiency anemia (anemia due to iron deficiency). Endocrine, … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Complications

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Classification

According to NYHA (New York Heart Association) guidelines, heart failure is classified as follows (defined in 1928). Classification Clinic Cardiac output (CV) End-diastolic ventricular pressure NYHA I(asymptomatic) Absence of symptoms at rest normal under stress increased under load NYHA II(mild) Impaired exercise capacity with greater physical exertion Normal under load elevated at rest NYHA III(moderate) … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Classification

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Sports

Physical activity is an important therapeutic measure in the treatment of heart failure: regular exercise promotes both the growth of new muscle cells and the sprouting of new vessels into the muscle. Regular physical endurance training of moderate intensity twice daily for at least 15 minutes on a cycle ergometer has very beneficial effects for … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Sports

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate heart failure (heart weakness): Leading symptoms Dyspnea* (shortness of breath or shortness of breath; at rest or on exertion). Performance reduction / fatigue (fatigue) or fatigue. Fluid retention (accumulation of fluid in the body). Peripheral edema (water retention) in dependent parts of the body (ankles, lower legs, sacral … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Causes

Pathogenesis (development of disease) A variety of conditions can trigger heart failure – see Etiology (causes) below. In Germany, 90% of heart failure is triggered by: Hypertension (high blood pressure) Coronary heart disease (CHD) All diseases that cause heart failure lead to a constantly increased load or direct weakening of the myocardium (heart muscle). The … Heart Failure (Cardiac Insufficiency): Causes