Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPost-ExacerbationFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Post-Exacerbation
Frequently Asked Questions
Congestive heart failure(CHF) is a condition in which the heart is unable to meet the demands of the body. This is because the heart muscle has become less able to contract over time or has a mechanical problem that limits its ability to fill with blood. When that happens, organs in your body don’t get enough oxygen to function properly.
People with CHF can successfully manage their condition with medications andlifestyle changes. In the United States, around six million people have CHF, and it is the leading cause of hospitalizations.
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Symptoms of CHF exacerbation can include one or more of the following:
What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
Is Congestive Heart Failure Hereditary?
Treatment may involve being admitted to the hospital. Your healthcare provider will make this decision based on the following:
The main goal in treatment for CHF exacerbation is to reduce the fluid volume in the body. If recently prescribed beta-blockers or other medication changes caused your CHF exacerbation, you may be givendiuretics, which are water pills that increase the amount of water and salt that leave your body through urination.
In the case of very low blood pressure or a serious cardiac event, beta-blockers may be discontinued temporarily.
Other possible treatment options include:
While beta blockers can worsen CHF exacerbation, treatment with moderate-dose beta blockers can be quite beneficial in the chronic management of CHF. Your healthcare provider may resume beta blocker therapy or add a low dose to your treatment plan once your fluid volume becomes normal.
Once your fluid volume, blood pressure, and heart function are stable, your healthcare provider will discharge you. They may recommend changes to your diet or CHF therapy.
After you’ve been stabilized and set for discharge, your healthcare provider may prescribe new medications and recommend lifestyle changes to prevent exacerbations in the future.
Preventing Heart Disease
What is CHF exacerbation?
CHF exacerbation occurs when there is an increase in or worsening of heart failure symptoms. Heart failure happens when your heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout your body.
What are common symptoms related to exacerbation of CHF?
Common symptoms of CHF exacerbation can include shortness of breath, persistent coughing, extreme fatigue, edema, and increased heart rate. If you have more than one of these symptoms, seek medical attention right away.
How do you manage chronic heart failure exacerbation?
There are a few different ways to limit CHF exacerbations. They include eating a low- or no-salt diet, maintaining normal blood pressure, staying active, and managing other chronic conditions such as diabetes or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
How do you treat CHF exacerbation?
People who have CHF exacerbation are usually admitted to the hospital for treatment. Depending on medical history, treatment may include diuretics to treat edema, beta-blockers to slow down the heart rate, and ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure. When discharged from the hospital, you may receive a new treatment plan to help prevent future exacerbations.
Congestive Heart Failure Pathophysiology
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure: understanding heart failure.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart failure.Raj L, Maidman SD, Adhyaru BB.Inpatient management of acute decompensated heart failure.Postgrad Med J. 2020;96(1131):33-42. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136742Cuba Gyllensten I, Bonomi AG, Goode KM, et al.Early indication of decompensated heart failure in patients on home-telemonitoring: a comparison of prediction algorithms based on daily weight and noninvasive transthoracic bio-impedance.JMIR Med Inform. 2016;4(1):e3. doi:10.2196/medinform.4842Holden V, Slack D III, McCurdy MT, Shah NG, Gupta N, Nusbaum J.Diagnosis and management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[digest].Emerg Med Pract. 2017;19(10 Suppl):S1-S2.American Heart Association.Flu and pneumonia prevention.American Heart Association.Shaking the salt habit to lower high blood pressure.Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure diet: low sodium.Azad N, Lemay G.Management of chronic heart failure in the older population.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2014;11(4):329-337. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2014.04.008Teerlink JR, Alburikan K, Metra M, Rodgers JE.Acute decompensated heart failure update.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):53–62. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117174414National Kidney Foundation.Ultrafiltration.American Heart Association.Target HF telephone follow-up fact sheet.American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure: understanding heart failure.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart failure.Raj L, Maidman SD, Adhyaru BB.Inpatient management of acute decompensated heart failure.Postgrad Med J. 2020;96(1131):33-42. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136742Cuba Gyllensten I, Bonomi AG, Goode KM, et al.Early indication of decompensated heart failure in patients on home-telemonitoring: a comparison of prediction algorithms based on daily weight and noninvasive transthoracic bio-impedance.JMIR Med Inform. 2016;4(1):e3. doi:10.2196/medinform.4842Holden V, Slack D III, McCurdy MT, Shah NG, Gupta N, Nusbaum J.Diagnosis and management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[digest].Emerg Med Pract. 2017;19(10 Suppl):S1-S2.American Heart Association.Flu and pneumonia prevention.American Heart Association.Shaking the salt habit to lower high blood pressure.Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure diet: low sodium.Azad N, Lemay G.Management of chronic heart failure in the older population.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2014;11(4):329-337. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2014.04.008Teerlink JR, Alburikan K, Metra M, Rodgers JE.Acute decompensated heart failure update.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):53–62. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117174414National Kidney Foundation.Ultrafiltration.American Heart Association.Target HF telephone follow-up fact sheet.American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure: understanding heart failure.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart failure.Raj L, Maidman SD, Adhyaru BB.Inpatient management of acute decompensated heart failure.Postgrad Med J. 2020;96(1131):33-42. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136742Cuba Gyllensten I, Bonomi AG, Goode KM, et al.Early indication of decompensated heart failure in patients on home-telemonitoring: a comparison of prediction algorithms based on daily weight and noninvasive transthoracic bio-impedance.JMIR Med Inform. 2016;4(1):e3. doi:10.2196/medinform.4842Holden V, Slack D III, McCurdy MT, Shah NG, Gupta N, Nusbaum J.Diagnosis and management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[digest].Emerg Med Pract. 2017;19(10 Suppl):S1-S2.American Heart Association.Flu and pneumonia prevention.American Heart Association.Shaking the salt habit to lower high blood pressure.Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure diet: low sodium.Azad N, Lemay G.Management of chronic heart failure in the older population.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2014;11(4):329-337. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2014.04.008Teerlink JR, Alburikan K, Metra M, Rodgers JE.Acute decompensated heart failure update.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):53–62. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117174414National Kidney Foundation.Ultrafiltration.American Heart Association.Target HF telephone follow-up fact sheet.American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.
Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure: understanding heart failure.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heart failure.
Raj L, Maidman SD, Adhyaru BB.Inpatient management of acute decompensated heart failure.Postgrad Med J. 2020;96(1131):33-42. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136742
Cuba Gyllensten I, Bonomi AG, Goode KM, et al.Early indication of decompensated heart failure in patients on home-telemonitoring: a comparison of prediction algorithms based on daily weight and noninvasive transthoracic bio-impedance.JMIR Med Inform. 2016;4(1):e3. doi:10.2196/medinform.4842
Holden V, Slack D III, McCurdy MT, Shah NG, Gupta N, Nusbaum J.Diagnosis and management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[digest].Emerg Med Pract. 2017;19(10 Suppl):S1-S2.
American Heart Association.Flu and pneumonia prevention.
American Heart Association.Shaking the salt habit to lower high blood pressure.
Cleveland Clinic.Heart failure diet: low sodium.
Azad N, Lemay G.Management of chronic heart failure in the older population.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2014;11(4):329-337. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2014.04.008
Teerlink JR, Alburikan K, Metra M, Rodgers JE.Acute decompensated heart failure update.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2015;11(1):53–62. doi:10.2174/1573403X09666131117174414
National Kidney Foundation.Ultrafiltration.
American Heart Association.Target HF telephone follow-up fact sheet.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.
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