From the Editor
Heart failure (congestive heart failure) is a serious condition in which the quality of blood pumped by the heart each minute (cardiac output) is insufficient to meet the bodys normal requirements for oxygen and nutrients. Our cover story this week is Heart Failure. Although some people mistakenly believe that the term heart failure means the heart has stopped, the term actually refers to the diminished ability of the heart to keep up with its work-load.
Any disease that affects the heart and interferes with the circulation can lead to heart failure. Diseases may selectively affect the heart muscle, impairing its ability to contract and pump blood. Smoking, eating salt, being overweight and drinking alcohol all aggravate heart failure as do extremes of room temperature. When salt restriction alone doesnt reduce fluid retention, diuretic drugs are prescribed to increase urine formation and remove sodium and water from the body through the kidneys.
Digoxin increases the power of each heartbeat and slows a heart rate that is too rapid. Vasodilators are also used. A vasodilator may dilate arteries, veins or both. Arterial dilators expand arteries and lower blood pressure, which in turn reduces the work required of the heart. At one time, there was no effective treatment for heart failure.
Now a days, most instances heart failure can be controlled with rest, salt restriction and medicines such as diuretics for reducing extra water, digitalis for making the pumping action of heart stronger and vasodilators for relaxing heart vessels, and also vital minerals supplements.
