Acute Heart Failure
What is acute heart failure? Heart failure is a life-threatening condition. When it occurs, your heart is still working, but it cannot deliver oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. With acute heart failure, you experience a sudden, rapid decline in heart functioning and the amount of blood your heart can pump to the rest of your body.
Who experiences acute heart failure? Acute heart failure occurs in people with or without previous heart issues: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) occurs in people with heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease. De novo acute heart failure occurs in people with no history of heart disease. They have ongoing health conditions, like diabetes, that damage their heart.
How do these issues cause acute heart failure? Heart disease and certain medical conditions can make your heart work harder than usual. This extra effort leads to physical changes that can include: Enlarged heart. Decreased blood flow. Narrow blood vessels. Rapid or irregular heartbeat. Stiff heart muscles. The changes are small at first. They start long before you experience acute heart failure symptoms. Over time, the changes get worse, making your heart work harder than it should. When your heart is no longer able to keep up, acute heart failure occurs.
Acute heart failure symptoms
One of the most common symptoms is
shortness of breath (dyspnea). You may experience:
Heavy breathing.
Sensation like suffocating.
Struggling to breathe while lying
down.
Tight chest.
Other acute heart failure symptoms
may include:
Arrhythmia.
Chest pain.
Cough.
Fluid retention (edema) in the arms
or legs.
Loss of consciousness.
What should I do if I experience
these symptoms?
If you notice any of these symptoms,
seek emergency medical care as quickly as possible. The sooner you receive treatment,
the better your chances of recovery.
What causes acute heart failure?
Health issues that strain the heart
increase your risk of heart failure:
Advanced kidney disease.
Alcoholism.
Blood clot in the lung (pulmonary
embolism).
Diabetes.
High blood pressure (hypertension).
Overactive thyroid
(hyperthyroidism).
Sleep apnea.
Stroke.
Viral infections affecting the
heart.
Existing heart problems that cause
ADHF include:
Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia).
Coronary artery disease.
Heart valve disease.
How is acute heart failure
diagnosed?
Healthcare providers perform a rapid
assessment that includes:
Your health history, including your
personal or family history of heart disease. They’ll want to know about other
health conditions like whether you use tobacco products and any medications you
take.
A physical exam to learn more about
your symptoms and how severe they are. This includes listening to your heart
and checking for signs of edema.
What tests will I need?
Healthcare providers use a variety
of tests to assess your symptoms, such as:
Electrocardiogram (EKG) to record
and assess the heart’s electrical activity.
Chest X-ray to check for fluid
build-up in the heart or lungs.
Echocardiogram to show heart movement
and blood flow.
Angiography or heart catheterization
to examine the heart’s blood vessels.
You may also need lab tests that
include:
BNP (biomarker) blood test to check
for hormones that occur when pressures change inside the heart.
Basic metabolic panel which shows
signs of kidney or thyroid issues.
What does acute heart failure
treatment look like?
Emergency treatment for acute heart
failure restores blood flow and oxygen levels. Care often includes:
Supplemental oxygen delivers extra
oxygen you breathe in through a mask.
Vasodilators, medications that open
narrowed blood vessels.
Water pills (diuretics) help the
body get rid of excess fluid.
Will I need other treatments?
After you leave the hospital, you
may need medications, like beta blockers or water pills, to maximize heart
health. Other treatments may be necessary to prevent future episodes of acute
heart failure.
These treatments may include surgery
to:
Stent placement or coronary bypass
surgery for coronary artery disease.
Repair or replace worn-out heart
valves (heart valve surgery).
Implant a pacemaker or implantable
cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to help you maintain a regular heartbeat and
help treat dangerous heart rhythms.
Replace your heart with a healthy
one from a donor (heart transplant).
Give your heart extra help with a
ventricular assist device until you can have a transplant.