Congestive Heart Failure Assignment

It refers to the inability of the heart to produce adequate pressure to maintain an adequate blood flow for the proper functioning of the body. This results in an anemic blood flow in body, coupled by the building up of pressure inside the heart. Low blood flow deprives the body of adequate oxygen supply, coupled by the possible stretching of the heart chambers in order to cope with the situation (CDC, 2012). The heart is forced to work even harder in order to meet the bodys functional requirements, which compensates for the shortfalls at the outset to keep the pressure sufficiently high. Congestive Heart Failure Assignment

However, this comes at a huge price, in the form of myocardium and increased coronary perfusion needs that exacerbate the problem further than the heart can cope with it. The stretching of the heart chambers thicken and weaken, while the heart ventricles enlarge, contributing to the expansion and spherical shape of the heart, which is inhibited from relaxing during diastole due to heightened stiffness (CDC, 2012). Eventually, the heart fails even more, bringing on the risk of cardiac arrest, coupled by considerable changes to the body, known as congestion. These changes include reduced arterial blood pressure, low perfusion and secretion of vasopressin by the hypothalamus. Vasopressin, aldosterone and other secretions due to the strain on the heart result in the retention of fluids by the kidney, ankles, lungs and other body organs (edema). Fluid retention damages the myocardium further, besides inducing a high hydrostatic pressure on the capillaries that draws more and more fluids from the blood (The European Society of Cardiology, 2008).

Causes

Many of the causes of the disease are difficult to identify owing to the diagnostic and population factors. However, the most common causes include coronary artery disease that narrows or completely blocks the coronary arteries, effectively starving the heart of vital nourishment and oxygen to facilitate proper functioning. Heart attacks and Cardiomyopathy result in the damaging of the heart muscles, effectively undermining the ability of the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. Ischemic heart disease account for upwards of 63% of the congestive heart disease (Fonarow, Abraham, Albert, et_al, 2008). Other causes include diabetes, obesity, cigarette smoking and valvular heart disease.Congestive Heart Failure Assignment