Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomy of the HeartSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy of the Heart
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Right-sidedheart failure develops when the right side of the heart does not pump blood as well as it should be, causing blood to back up into the venous system and limiting how much blood the heart can pump per minute. Symptoms of right-sided heart failure, such asdyspnea(shortness of breath), edema (swelling of the limbs), and fatigue can be severe. There are a multitude of reasons the right side of the heart might become weak and so treatment, which can include lifestyle changes and medication, is determined based on the cause.
The heart is made up of four chambers. The upper chambers are called the left and right atria, and the lower chambers are called the left and right ventricles. A wall of muscle called the septum separates the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles.
The job of the heart’s left ventricle is to pump blood out of the heart to all organs of the body against relatively high pressure, requiring the walls of the left ventricle to be muscular, thick, and strong. By contrast, the right ventricle’s job is to pump “used,” oxygen-poor blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery to be replenished with oxygen. It can work under low pressure, and is a relatively thin-walled structure, with much less cardiac muscle than the left ventricle.
The Heart’s Chambers and Valves
The symptoms of right-sided heart failure aren’t dissimilar to those ofleft-sided heart failure, but they can be more severe:
Often has more severe symptoms than left-sided heart failure
Can occur as a result of left-sided heart failure
Can result from valvular heart disease
Can result from a heart attack
The conditions that cause predominantly right-sided heart failure are different from those known tocausepredominantly left-sided heart failure and fall into three categories.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertensionis elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. It can lead to right-sided heart failure because the walls of the right side of the heart are thin and relatively inefficient at pumping under conditions of high pressure. If the right ventricle has to work for extended periods of time against elevated pressures in the pulmonary artery, it begins to fail.
Pulmonary hypertension associated with right-sided heart failure can develop due to:
Other potential causes of pulmonary hypertension include primary pulmonary hypertension,scleroderma,sarcoidosis, or various forms ofvasculitisaffecting the lungs.
Valvular Heart Disease
Any type of valvular heart disease whose chief effect is to increase the pressure within the right side of the heart or to obstruct the flow of blood through the right side of the heart can produce right-sided heart failure.
This might include:
Heart Valve Disease
Right Ventricular Myocardial Infarction
However, because right-sided heart failure can limit the amount of blood that reaches the left side of the heart, drugs aimed mainly at treating left-sided ventricular weakness (such as nitrates,beta blockers, andcalcium channel blockers) need to be used with great caution in people having right ventricular heart attacks.
Other conditions associated with right-sided heart failure includediabetes,HIV infection,thyroid problems,heart arrhythmias, andhigh blood pressure.
What Causes a Heart Attack?
Tests used to diagnose right-sided heart failure include:
Heart Failure Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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Adequate treatmentof right-sided heart failure relies on identifying and treating the underlying cause:
While the underlying disease process is being identified, medications may be prescribed, including:
Although a last resort, right-sided heart failure is sometimes treated with a heart transplant, in which the damaged heart is surgically removed and replaced with a healthy heart from a deceased donor.
If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, it’s important to be proactive in the management of your condition. In some cases, medication adjustments.self-care, andlifestyle changesmay be enough to help address symptoms:
A Word From Verywell
The prognosis for recovery from right-sided heart failure depends on the cause of the condition and severity of the symptoms. Although some people can improve with treatment and lifestyle changes, others may require an implant or heart transplant. Because this is a serious condition that can even lead to premature death, it’s critical that you receive a thorough medical evaluation when you experience symptoms, and that you act quickly to reverse or ameliorate the underlying cause.
10 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.Harjola VP, Mebazaa A, Čelutkienė J, et al.Contemporary management of acute right ventricular failure: A statement from the heart failure association and the working group on pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function of the european society of cardiology.Eur J Heart Fa.2016 Mar;18(3):226-41. doi:10.1002/ejhf.478Dutta T, Aronow WS.Echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle: Clinical implications.Clin Cardiol. 2017;40(8):542–548. doi:10.1002/clc.22694Galiè N, Humbert M, Vachiery JL, et al.ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension.Eur Respiratory J.Oct 2015, 46 (4) 903-975. doi:10.1183/13993003.01032-2015Konstam MA, Kiernan MS, Bernstein D, et al.Evaluation and management of right-sided heart failure: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2018;137(20):e578-e622.DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000560Mcdonough RJ, Moul MS, Beckman D, Slim AM.Isolated right ventricular failure in hyperthyroidism: a clinical dilemma.Heart Int. 2011;6(2):e11. doi:10.4081/hi.2011.e11Arrigo M, Huber LC, Winnik S, et al.Right ventricular failure: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Card Fail Rev. 2019;5(3):140-146. doi:10.15420/cfr.2019.15.2American Heart Association.What is the mediterranean diet?American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.American Heart Association.Keeping a healthy body weight.American Heart Association. AHARecommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.
10 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.Harjola VP, Mebazaa A, Čelutkienė J, et al.Contemporary management of acute right ventricular failure: A statement from the heart failure association and the working group on pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function of the european society of cardiology.Eur J Heart Fa.2016 Mar;18(3):226-41. doi:10.1002/ejhf.478Dutta T, Aronow WS.Echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle: Clinical implications.Clin Cardiol. 2017;40(8):542–548. doi:10.1002/clc.22694Galiè N, Humbert M, Vachiery JL, et al.ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension.Eur Respiratory J.Oct 2015, 46 (4) 903-975. doi:10.1183/13993003.01032-2015Konstam MA, Kiernan MS, Bernstein D, et al.Evaluation and management of right-sided heart failure: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2018;137(20):e578-e622.DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000560Mcdonough RJ, Moul MS, Beckman D, Slim AM.Isolated right ventricular failure in hyperthyroidism: a clinical dilemma.Heart Int. 2011;6(2):e11. doi:10.4081/hi.2011.e11Arrigo M, Huber LC, Winnik S, et al.Right ventricular failure: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Card Fail Rev. 2019;5(3):140-146. doi:10.15420/cfr.2019.15.2American Heart Association.What is the mediterranean diet?American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.American Heart Association.Keeping a healthy body weight.American Heart Association. AHARecommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.
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.
Harjola VP, Mebazaa A, Čelutkienė J, et al.Contemporary management of acute right ventricular failure: A statement from the heart failure association and the working group on pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function of the european society of cardiology.Eur J Heart Fa.2016 Mar;18(3):226-41. doi:10.1002/ejhf.478Dutta T, Aronow WS.Echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle: Clinical implications.Clin Cardiol. 2017;40(8):542–548. doi:10.1002/clc.22694Galiè N, Humbert M, Vachiery JL, et al.ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension.Eur Respiratory J.Oct 2015, 46 (4) 903-975. doi:10.1183/13993003.01032-2015Konstam MA, Kiernan MS, Bernstein D, et al.Evaluation and management of right-sided heart failure: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2018;137(20):e578-e622.DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000560Mcdonough RJ, Moul MS, Beckman D, Slim AM.Isolated right ventricular failure in hyperthyroidism: a clinical dilemma.Heart Int. 2011;6(2):e11. doi:10.4081/hi.2011.e11Arrigo M, Huber LC, Winnik S, et al.Right ventricular failure: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Card Fail Rev. 2019;5(3):140-146. doi:10.15420/cfr.2019.15.2American Heart Association.What is the mediterranean diet?American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.American Heart Association.Keeping a healthy body weight.American Heart Association. AHARecommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.
Harjola VP, Mebazaa A, Čelutkienė J, et al.Contemporary management of acute right ventricular failure: A statement from the heart failure association and the working group on pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function of the european society of cardiology.Eur J Heart Fa.2016 Mar;18(3):226-41. doi:10.1002/ejhf.478
Dutta T, Aronow WS.Echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle: Clinical implications.Clin Cardiol. 2017;40(8):542–548. doi:10.1002/clc.22694
Galiè N, Humbert M, Vachiery JL, et al.ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension.Eur Respiratory J.Oct 2015, 46 (4) 903-975. doi:10.1183/13993003.01032-2015
Konstam MA, Kiernan MS, Bernstein D, et al.Evaluation and management of right-sided heart failure: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2018;137(20):e578-e622.DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000560
Mcdonough RJ, Moul MS, Beckman D, Slim AM.Isolated right ventricular failure in hyperthyroidism: a clinical dilemma.Heart Int. 2011;6(2):e11. doi:10.4081/hi.2011.e11
Arrigo M, Huber LC, Winnik S, et al.Right ventricular failure: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.Card Fail Rev. 2019;5(3):140-146. doi:10.15420/cfr.2019.15.2
American Heart Association.What is the mediterranean diet?
American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.
American Heart Association.Keeping a healthy body weight.
American Heart Association. AHARecommendations for physical activity in adults and kids.
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