Coronary Heart Disease
Understanding Congestive Heart Disease
All of us know that the most important organ of the body
is the heart because it is the single muscle that pumps blood
to all parts of the body. What contains in the blood stream
are the essentials nutrients needed by each part of the body
including the pumping of blood by the heart to nourish the
heart.
Every year, there are hundreds of thousands of people who
die from the number one cause of death which is heart disease.
Heart disease encompasses a broad category of heart related
illnesses. And all these illnesses range from coronary heart
disease to congenital heart disease to high blood pressure.
Another disease of the heart being identified is congestive
heart disease. In order to determine congestive heart disease
it is important to know what this disease is, the symptoms
and the causes.
Definition
Congestive heart disease is the gradual weakening of the
heart’s ability to function as the muscle which pumps
and circulates the blood supply to all parts of the body.
Simply, congestive heart disease can be defined as the heart
slowing down rather than stopping.
This slowing down of the circulatory process system is established
as the failing heart pumps the needed blood supply through
the body at a much slower than usual rate. When this process
goes on, the pressure within the heart will escalate.
As a result, the heart is not able to provide the needed
oxygen and other needed elements to maintain the health of
the body. Although this increased pressure within the heart
is temporary, but gradually the cardiac walls lose their integrity
and their ability to act as a pump.
Most of the time, during the progression of congestive heart
disease, there is a domino affect. This affect is being seen
as the kidneys begin to decrease their removal of water and
salt. Then, the accumulation of fluid will pool in the extremities,
lungs and other organs of the body. This will then result
in congestion, clogging of fluids, gives meaning to the condition
known as congestive heart disease.
Symptoms
The intensity of the symptoms of congestive heart disease
is a reflection of how severe the individual condition is.
All the symptoms will say about the heart’s condition
associated organs resulting from the heart’s weakening
state.
When there is congestion in the lungs, there may be a gasping
for air. This shortness of breath will occur during exercise
or even when at rest. In addition, there may be an associated
dry cough or wheezing sound.
Congestive heart disease will also affect the kidney from
functioning properly. This adverse response results in the
body retaining water which in turn results in the accumulation
of water in the lower legs and ankles. Besides, when the heart
is weakened, less blood is supplied to the muscles of the
body and its major organs. As a result, fatigue occurs. .
There is another symptom of congestive heart disease, which
is in the heart’s response to its condition. In order
to counter its weakened state, the heart begins to pump faster
to provide the needed blood supply for the body.
Causes
There are many causes that can potentially be the cause of
congestive heart disease. Coronary artery disease is one of
the causes. The coronary arteries are the major arteries which
supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Blockages, buildup
of plaque and fat deposits, of these arteries may cause a
sudden heart attack. This heart attack may cause permanent
damage to the heart muscle which results in the inability
of the heart to perform optimally. Eventually, the weakened
state may lead to congestive heart disease.
Besides, the misuse of alcohols and drugs, hypertension,
might also be the causes of congestive heart disease. In addition,
the individual’s heart may have been damaged due to
a serious infection.
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