{"id":645,"date":"2022-12-16T09:13:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T09:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/?p=645"},"modified":"2022-12-18T09:33:13","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T09:33:13","slug":"congestive-heart-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/congestive-heart-failure-medications\/congestive-heart-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Congestive Heart Failure? (CHF)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Highlights<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a set of symptoms showing a reduction in the heart\u2019s ability to pump blood.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>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.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Comparison shopping can help you secure the lowest prices on congestive heart failure medications.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Heart disease is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/fastats\/leading-causes-of-death.htm\">the most common cause of death<\/a> 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\u2019s diagnosed and treated, and how to better manage it.<br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2>Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Causes<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congestive heart failure, often called \u201cheart failure\u201d or CHF, is a set of symptoms demonstrating a reduced ability for the heart to pump blood. It\u2019s sorted into three different types:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Left-sided<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right-sided<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biventricular<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CHF is generally associated with common diseases such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coronary artery disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart attack<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypertension (high blood pressure)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atrial fibrillation (AFib)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valvular heart disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive drinking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart infection<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Symptoms<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-649\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2.jpeg-32.jpg\" alt=\"Older woman holding on to her heart\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the type of heart failure, you\u2019ll see different symptoms. However, they can be mild or easily mistaken for less serious illness. Some people with CHF have no symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Left-sided CHF. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Left-sided disease causes blood to back up into the lungs, causing breathing problems and related symptoms, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tachypnea (faster breathing rate)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coughing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crackling or wheezing in the lungs, a sign of pulmonary edema<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Right-sided CHF. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This focus of this type of CHF is the circulatory system, reflected in these symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edema (swelling in the limbs), particularly \u201cpitting\u201d edema, where the skin does not spring back when pushed down<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swelling in the abdomen (ascites)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enlarged liver<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enlarged spleen<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequent urination during the night (nocturia)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Biventricular failure. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Risk Factors<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to heart disease, these factors elevate the risk of CHF:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Family history.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If your family has heart failure as part of its history, it often reflects genetic risk factors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lifestyle factors.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Diet, tobacco use, recreational drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, and limited physical activity all raise the risk of heart failure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other chronic conditions.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Other long-term problems aggravate heart disease and can trigger CHF, such as:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep apnea\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kidney disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anemia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thyroid disease\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cancer treatment.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Radiation and chemotherapy are possible causes of heart injury and can cause CHF long term.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3.jpeg-29.jpg\" alt=\"Cardiogram procedure\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no one accepted diagnostic criteria for heart failure. As a result, there are several possible diagnosis methods. They can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ejection fraction. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This measures how much blood leaves the heart in one contraction. Usually, anything below 50% will lead to further tests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ultrasound.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Using medical imaging, doctors study your heart to look for signs of heart disease and general functioning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>X-Ray.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Both chest X-rays and angiography, which images the blood vessels, are used to locate signs of heart disease and CHF.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Electrocardiogram.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Some causes of CHF can be found by studying the heart\u2019s electrical signature, including arrhythmia and a lack of blood flow to the heart.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Blood tests.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Some blood markers, such as brain natriuretic peptide 32 (BNP), indicate heart failure if elevated.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Complications<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congestive heart failure can open the door to other problems, largely due to reduced blood flow. The most common complications are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Non-cardiac organ damage or failure. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heart valve damage. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CHF enlarges the heart valves in some situations, as they strain to maintain blood flow. This damages the valves over time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heart arrhythmia. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes to the heart lead to an irregular heartbeat. This can cause problems such as clotting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Treatment<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-647\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/4.jpeg-14.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor listening to female patient breathing\" width=\"512\" height=\"270\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any treatment plan hinges on the cause of CHF, although there are some core underpinnings. The first is preventative. Even if you\u2019re diagnosed with CHF, a series of preventative measures can help mitigate the damage and severity of symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These measures include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular exercise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic disease management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lowering blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limiting sodium, alcohol, and sugar intake<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quitting tobacco<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treating other reversible causes, such as thyroid disease<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Medication<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the type of CHF, several types of medication can be used for treatment:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Angiotensin II receptor blockers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Angiotensin-receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IF channel blockers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beta blockers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aldosterone antagonists<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diuretics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which medication you\u2019ll take will depend on underlying conditions and treatment approaches.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>BidRX Helps You Find The Lowest Price for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Medication<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BidRX takes the difficulty out of filling prescriptions. View our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/home\/Contents\/medication\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medication page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highlights Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a set of symptoms showing a reduction in the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":646,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-congestive-heart-failure-medications"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=645"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":652,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/645\/revisions\/652"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}