Congestive Heart Failure Overview

Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of congestive heart failure (CHF)?

It is a specific disease with clear symptoms.

It describes a syndrome with poor tissue perfusion. (correct)

It causes excessive blood flow to the tissues.

It only affects the left side of the heart.

Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of congestive heart failure?

Swelling of the feet and ankles

Severe headaches (correct)

Shortness of breath

Loss of appetite

Which of the following can lead to congestive heart failure according to common causes?

Anemia

Myocardial infarctions (correct)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Hyperlipidemia

What percentage of mortality may occur within 5 years after a diagnosis of CHF?

50% Signup and view all the answers

Which complication of CHF is considered life-threatening?

Pulmonary edema Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated annual expenditure for inpatient management of CHF in the United States?

$23 billion Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is NOT typically associated as a cause of CHF?

Asthma Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes to poor contractility of the heart muscle in CHF?

Cell death from reduced blood flow Signup and view all the answers

What term is synonymous with congestive heart failure in medical literature?

Heart failure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about CHF progression is true?

It is a progressive pathophysiologic syndrome. Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible consequence of the increased metabolic demands associated with hyperthyroidism?

Depletion of cardiac reserves leading to low-output failure Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom is most closely associated with left heart failure when a patient is in a supine position?

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea Signup and view all the answers

What common clinical manifestation occurs in right heart failure?

Pitting edema of the feet and ankles Signup and view all the answers

Why do patients with heart failure experience nocturia?

Increased blood volume when supine raises kidney filtration Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) have in compensated heart failure?

Increases vascular resistance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions can lead to high-output failure?

Severe anemia Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical sign of left-sided heart failure?

Dyspnea on exertion Signup and view all the answers

What cardiac condition is characterized by decreased right ventricular function?

Cor pulmonale Signup and view all the answers

Which physiological change occurs in patients lying down that contributes to the symptoms of heart failure?

Increased preload due to elevated total blood volume Signup and view all the answers

What condition may develop from the compensatory actions of the SNS in heart failure?

Cardiac hypertrophy Signup and view all the answers

What is one common sign of congestive heart failure (CHF) related to heart rhythm?

Tachycardia Signup and view all the answers

Which of these complications is often observed in patients hospitalized due to CHF?

Pulmonary edema Signup and view all the answers

Which pharmacologic treatment is commonly used as the initial therapy for symptomatic patients with CHF?

Diuretic and ACE inhibitor Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate 5-year survival rate for patients with CHF?

50% Signup and view all the answers

Which diuretic is considered effective for mild fluid retention in patients with CHF?

Hydrochlorothiazide Signup and view all the answers

What increases the likelihood of re-admission within 6 months for CHF patients?

Poor management of symptoms Signup and view all the answers

Which intervention forms part of effective treatment for CHF alongside diuretics?

Inhibitors of the RAA system Signup and view all the answers

What can cause murmurs that are detected upon auscultation in CHF patients?

Cardiac hypertrophy with or without structural valvular changes Signup and view all the answers

What usually accompanies low cardiac output in CHF patients?

Reduced renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a serious complication of CHF that can develop over time?

Intracardiac thrombi formation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

CHF is a progressive syndrome representing various cardiac dysfunctions leading to poor tissue perfusion.
Main components of CHF include sluggish blood flow (congestion) and tissue swelling (edema).
Other terminologies: cardiac failure, ventricular failure, or heart failure.

Significance of CHF

Mortality risk surpasses 50% within 5 years of diagnosis, varying by heart failure stage.
Common symptoms: shortness of breath (dyspnea), fatigue, exercise intolerance, abdominal pain, nausea with appetite loss, significant swelling of lower extremities.
Pulmonary edema is a critical and life-threatening complication.
CHF is the fastest-growing cardiac disease in the U.S.
Annual healthcare costs for CHF: around $63 billion for inpatient and outpatient management.

Causes and Risk Factors of CHF

CHF can arise as a complication of numerous conditions.
Major contributing factors in the U.S.: myocardial infarctions from coronary artery atherosclerosis and systemic hypertension.
Heart cell death due to poor blood flow leads to decreased heart muscle contractility.
Other causes include cardiomyopathies, viral infections (myocarditis), and valvular heart disease.
High-output failure causes: hyperthyroid disease and severe anemia, which increase cardiac demand and strain.

Diagnosis: Clinical Manifestations and Laboratory Tests

CHF can involve right-sided or left-sided heart failure, often progressing to bilateral failure.
Left heart failure presents low cardiac output and elevated pulmonary venous pressure.
Symptoms include orthopnea (dyspnea worsened when lying down) and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (sudden nighttime suffocation sensation).
Fluid accumulation signs: pitting edema in ambulatory patients and buttock edema in bedridden patients.
Compensated heart failure symptoms include tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, diaphoresis, and cool skin.
Cardiac hypertrophy and potential murmurs detectable by auscultation are also notable.

Serious Complications and Prognosis

Over one-third of CHF patients are re-admitted within 6 months; 5-year survival rate is around 50%.
Major complications include pulmonary edema, bacterial pneumonia, ventricular arrhythmia, and cardiac enlargement with thrombi.
Survival probability has improved due to increased use of ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in recent decades.
Effective CHF treatments include diuretics, RAA system inhibitors, beta-blockers, digitalis glycosides, vasodilators, and anticoagulants.
Initial treatment for symptomatic patients typically involves a diuretic combined with an ACE inhibitor.
Diuretics are the most effective for symptomatic relief in CHF, with thiazide diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide being sufficient for mild fluid retention.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers the fundamental aspects of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), including its definition, causes, and consequences. Understand the pathophysiologic syndrome that leads to cardiac dysfunction and the impact on tissue perfusion. Test your knowledge on the important features such as sluggish blood flow and tissue edema.