Congestive Heart Failure Treatment & Prevention Options

Conditions & Diseases: Cardiovascular System

Congestive Heart Failure

Treatment & Prevention Options

Treatment

Common treatment options for Congestive Heart Failure include:

I. Medications

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors: These are used to block the formation of the angiotensin II hormone, which has potentially adverse effects on the heart and circulation in patients suffering from heart failure. These medications block the formation of angiotensin II, a hormone with many potentially adverse effects on the heart and circulation in patients with heart failure. Examples of ACE inhibitors include Captopril, Enalapril, Ramipril, Lisinopril, Quinapril, Fosinopril, Benazepril and Moexipril.

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs): Those unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors are advised to take ARBs. These drugs block the action of angiotensin II at its receptor site directly. Examples of ARBs include Losartan, Candesartan, Telmisartan, Valsartan and Irbesartan.

Beta-blockers: Some hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine act as Beta-blockers on beta receptors of various body tissues to produce a stimulative affect. The effect of these hormones on the beta receptors of the heart leads to forceful contraction of the heart muscle. Examples of beta-blockers include Carvedilol and Metaprolol.

Diuretics: These form an important component in the treatment of Congestive Heart Failure by preventing fluid retention in the lungs and other tissues by promoting the flow of fluid through kidneys. Some examples of diuretics include Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Bumetanide, Torsemide, Spironolactone and Metolazone. (11)

Inotropes: Stimulants such as Dobutamine and Milrinone increase the pumping ability of the heart.

Digoxin: This is an older drug used to improve the pumping ability of heart (5).

II. Procedures:

Angioplasty: In this procedure, a long thin tube called a catheter is inserted through the skin into a blood vessel and threaded into the affected artery. Once it is at the targeted spot, a tiny balloon and/or an expandable metal stent attached at the end of the catheter is inflated. The inflated catheter pushes aside the plaque that is blocking the artery enabling the flow of blood in a normal manner.

Pacemaker: This is a device used to control the rhythm of heartbeats. It is basically an electrode on the tip of a wire implanted inside the heart. A pacemaker regulates the heartbeat or synchronizes the pumping action of left and right ventricles. A device called Intra Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) may be implanted along with the pacemaker to detect and electrically shock a life threatening arrhythmia to normalcy (5).

Prevention Methods

Congestive Heart Failure can be prevented by:

1. Treating hypertension with diet, exercise and medication.

2. Treating high cholesterol with diet, exercise and medication.

3. Avoiding smoking.

4. Avoiding alcohol.

5. Treating arrhythmias and keeping heart rate under control.

6. Reducing salt intake.

7. Regular physical exercise.

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
02/21/2011