What Is Congestive Heart Failure?

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Recommended: Pathophysiology of congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart does not pump blood through the body the way it should. It is also known as heart failure or CHF. Even though, it is called heart failure, that does not mean that the heart shuts down completely. Other conditions that effect the heart can cause it to become damaged, weak, or stiff. This makes it hard for the heart to pump blood correctly. The term congestive heart failure comes from blood backing up and causing congestion but it is possible to have heart failure without any congestion. ("Heart failure", 2017) There are four types of heart failure. It can occur in the right or left chamber of the heart, or both at the same time. These types of heart failure cause congestion
Heart valve problems because of the blood not flowing properly is a common problem. This can lead to arrhythmias, a condition that affects heart rhythm. As heart failure progresses, it can affect other organs in the body. It can cause damage to the kidneys because of the reduced blood flow. The liver is another organ that is affected by heart failure. “Heart failure can lead to a buildup of fluid that puts too much pressure on the liver. This fluid backup can lead to scarring, which makes it more difficult for your liver to function properly” ("Heart failure",
The first step is usually a physical exam. Blood tests can be ordered to test the chemical balance of the blood. Stress tests can be performed in various ways and they will help the doctor diagnose coronary artery disease. They also show how well the body is responding to loss of blood pumping ability. There are multiple imaging tests that can be used to diagnose CHF such as CT scan, MRI, x-ray, and a coronary angiogram. In rare cases, a biopsy of the heart can also be performed. ("Heart failure", 2017) In an x-ray of a chest, congestive heart failure can be seen in different stages. In stage 1, the upper lobe vessels appear larger in width. In stage 2, kerley-b lines can be seen near the costophrenic angles. These are caused by interstitial edema. Stage 3 shows edema in the alveoli, and pleural effusion. (Cremers, Bradshaw, & Herfkens, n.d.) It is not necessary to change the technical factors for a chest x-ray with

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