Heart Failure: Treatment
What doctor do?
- Treat any obvious cause of heart failure.
- Provide advice on risk factors such as smoking, type of diet, overweight and hypertension.
- Refer the patient to further tests to identify the cause of heart failure.
- To investigate whether heart failure is a therapeutic option surgery (coronary artery bypass bypass, although in some cases this can be achieved without surgical revascularization) or replacement of damaged heart valves.
- Prescribe medication.
- Arrange regular visits, to see how the patient progresses.Medical treatment
Diuretics
These agents help to remove excess fluid and salts to reduce the strain experienced by the heart and blood vessels. The patient may need potassium supplements, because some diuretics cause loss of this element.
Agents that increase cardiac function
For example, digoxin, an agent with properties to achieve a more effective cardiac contraction.
Inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Act by preventing the formation of a hormone that has the ability to cause a contraction of the vessels (with a vasodilating action.) This allows the heart to pump blood at a lower pressure.
Receptor antagonists Angiotensin II
They are also drugs with vasodilator action, although with a slightly different mechanism of ACE inhibitors. Used if the patient has side effects when taking ACE inhibitors.
Nitrates (nitrites)
Increase venous capacity, reduce resistance in the circulation and dilate the coronary arteries.
Beta blockers
Reduce the harmful effects of excessive response by the autonomic nervous system in response to heart failure.
Heart transplantation
In cases of serious heart failure, when they have failed all therapeutic possibilities in cases with a limited life expectancy to about 2 years if they meet the criteria for admission to the transplant program, this may be the only treatment option.
What can be done to prevent heart failure due to coronary heart disease?
- Stop smoking.
- Avoid overeating.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat a healthy diet low in fat.
If you have a disease that can cause heart failure, including hypertension, it is important that it be compensated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of developing it.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor.
credit to: Dra. Sabine Gill, Dr. Steen Dalby Kristensen, Dr. Neal Uren, Dr. Patrick Davey, Dr. Reginal Odbert, Dra. Montserrat Vilaseca Corbera