Highlights
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a set of symptoms showing a reduction in the heart’s ability to pump blood.
- CHF is classified as left-sided, right-sided, and biventricular, which each have different symptoms. Some people may have CHF with no symptoms at all.
- Comparison shopping can help you secure the lowest prices on congestive heart failure medications.
Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States, and congestive heart failure is one of the early warning signs. Yet the signs may not be what you expect, and they can easily be missed. Learn what you should know about CHF, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and how to better manage it.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Causes
Congestive heart failure, often called “heart failure” or CHF, is a set of symptoms demonstrating a reduced ability for the heart to pump blood. It’s sorted into three different types:
- Left-sided
- Right-sided
- Biventricular
CHF is generally associated with common diseases such as:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- Valvular heart disease
- Excessive drinking
- Heart infection
Any of these, singly or in combination, can cause CHF. Despite the name, however, CHF is not necessarily fatal and can be treated or prevented.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Symptoms
Depending on the type of heart failure, you’ll see different symptoms. However, they can be mild or easily mistaken for less serious illness. Some people with CHF have no symptoms.
Left-sided CHF. Left-sided disease causes blood to back up into the lungs, causing breathing problems and related symptoms, including:
- Tachypnea (faster breathing rate)
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Crackling or wheezing in the lungs, a sign of pulmonary edema
Right-sided CHF. This focus of this type of CHF is the circulatory system, reflected in these symptoms:
- Edema (swelling in the limbs), particularly “pitting” edema, where the skin does not spring back when pushed down
- Swelling in the abdomen (ascites)
- Enlarged liver
- Enlarged spleen
- Frequent urination during the night (nocturia)
Biventricular failure. This type of CHF can include all of these symptoms as well as pleural effusion, where fluid collects between the lungs and the chest wall.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Risk Factors
In addition to heart disease, these factors elevate the risk of CHF:
- Age. As we age, our muscles, including the heart, become weaker and stiffer. Other chronic conditions that are more likely as we get older can also cause CHF.
- Family history. If your family has heart failure as part of its history, it often reflects genetic risk factors.
- Lifestyle factors. Diet, tobacco use, recreational drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, and limited physical activity all raise the risk of heart failure.
- Other chronic conditions. Other long-term problems aggravate heart disease and can trigger CHF, such as:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Kidney disease
- Anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Cancer treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy are possible causes of heart injury and can cause CHF long term.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Diagnosis
There is no one accepted diagnostic criteria for heart failure. As a result, there are several possible diagnosis methods. They can include:
- Ejection fraction. This measures how much blood leaves the heart in one contraction. Usually, anything below 50% will lead to further tests.
- Ultrasound. Using medical imaging, doctors study your heart to look for signs of heart disease and general functioning.
- X-Ray. Both chest X-rays and angiography, which images the blood vessels, are used to locate signs of heart disease and CHF.
- Electrocardiogram. Some causes of CHF can be found by studying the heart’s electrical signature, including arrhythmia and a lack of blood flow to the heart.
- Blood tests. Some blood markers, such as brain natriuretic peptide 32 (BNP), indicate heart failure if elevated.
Depending on the hospital, these methods are combined in various ways to confirm a CHF diagnosis. Ask your doctor about what tests are part of the diagnosis process and why.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Complications
Congestive heart failure can open the door to other problems, largely due to reduced blood flow. The most common complications are:
- Non-cardiac organ damage or failure. Heart failure reduces the flow of blood to your other organs, and left untreated, can cause permanent damage or even total failure. The kidneys and liver, in particular, are vulnerable.
- Heart valve damage. CHF enlarges the heart valves in some situations, as they strain to maintain blood flow. This damages the valves over time.
- Heart arrhythmia. Changes to the heart lead to an irregular heartbeat. This can cause problems such as clotting.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Treatment
Any treatment plan hinges on the cause of CHF, although there are some core underpinnings. The first is preventative. Even if you’re diagnosed with CHF, a series of preventative measures can help mitigate the damage and severity of symptoms.
These measures include:
- Regular exercise
- Chronic disease management
- Lowering blood pressure
- Limiting sodium, alcohol, and sugar intake
- Quitting tobacco
- Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Treating other reversible causes, such as thyroid disease
In some cases, surgery may be recommended to repair damage to the cardiac muscle or to treat related conditions. In many cases, however, medication will be the first line of treatment.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Medication
Depending on the type of CHF, several types of medication can be used for treatment:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers
- Angiotensin-receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs)
- IF channel blockers
- Beta blockers
- Aldosterone antagonists
- Hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate
- Diuretics
Which medication you’ll take will depend on underlying conditions and treatment approaches.
BidRX Helps You Find The Lowest Price for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Medication
CHF can be a frightening condition, but it is treatable and preventable. Yet, often the cost of medication makes filling prescriptions difficult for many of us.
BidRX takes the cost and frustration out of finding the lowest price for CHF medication. On BidRX, pharmacists offer their best price, and you simply pick the order that fits your needs and have it shipped to your door or pick it up locally, depending on the offer you choose. Retail, wholesale, and specialty pharmacies are all available to fit your budget and needs.
BidRX takes the difficulty out of filling prescriptions. View our medication page to get started.
