Congestive Heart Failure Clinic

The Congestive Heart Failure Clinic provides outpatient care for those diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Galichia's professional staff works in conjunction with physicians to care for the hearts of our patients. The clinic offers IV infusion therapy along with medicine management and education to help patients learn how to best manage their heart failure. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What Is Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure means that your heart does not pump as strong as it should. Therefore, the blood that is normally pumped forward backs up into your lungs and other parts of your body. It does not mean your heart has stopped working. Because your heart does not pump blood as well as it should, fluid tends to build up in the lungs and other parts of the body. Organs such as the kidneys and the brain receive less blood. The most common symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath, swelling of the feet and legs, and fatigue.

In most cases, heart failure is a chronic condition, which means it can be treated and managed, but not cured. In some cases, surgery may help.

Types of Heart Failure

• Right – Sided Heart Failure
  Symptoms of right-sided heart failure are swelling (edema) in your ankles and feet, liver problems and swelling of the abdomen (ascites). Your appetite may decrease.
• Left – Sided Heart Failure
  Symptoms of left sided heart failure are shortness of breath (dyspnea), especially when you exert yourself. You may have problems breathing when you are lying down flat and may wake up coughing.

Right and left sided heart failure often occur together.

What Causes Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure usually happens when a medical condition makes the heart weak. Coronary artery disease (heart blockage) is a common cause. Other conditions that can lead to congestive heart failure include heart attacks, high blood pressure, lung disease, infection of the heart muscle and problems with the heart’s valves. Alcohol, smoking and substance abuse may also be associated with heart failure.

Over time, the heart weakens and becomes unable to circulate enough blood to meet the body’s needs. As the heart’s ability to pump decreases, the body tries to compensate (make up for it) in several ways.

• The nervous system stimulates the heart to beat faster and more forcefully
• The kidneys, which receive less blood flow, make the body retain (keep) salt and water
• The heart goes through “remodeling.” During remodeling, the heart chambers may dilate (enlarge) to allow more blood into the heart; the heart muscle may hypertrophy (thicken) to strengthen the heart, or both

These “compensatory mechanisms” are able to make up for the loss in the heart’s pumping ability, sometimes for years. Eventually, like an overstretched rubber band, the heart muscle becomes so extended that it is unable to contract properly. Because the failing heart moves less blood with each beat, blood returning to the heart backs up in the lungs and “pools” in the legs. Also, less blood is delivered to various organs.

When blood backs up in the lungs, fluid seeps out and causes build-up, or congestion, in lung tissues. The excess fluid interferes with the free flow of oxygen, resulting in shortness of breath. As the body retains water, the excess fluid seeps into body tissues and can lead to swelling of the feet, legs, and sometimes the abdomen. When the failing heart cannot pump enough blood to the body, lack of oxygen causes fatigue and weakness.

What Can Be Done To Control Heart Failure?

• Take the medicines prescribed by your doctor
• Reduce the amount of salt in your diet to 2-3 grams per day
• Get enough rest. Put your feet up, when you can to reduce ankle swelling
• Plan your activities. Know your limits. Ask your doctor about exercise
• Stop smoking
• Get your weight within normal range. Weigh yourself everyday
• Avoid alcohol

When to Call Your Doctor?

Call your doctor if you have one or more of the following symptoms

• Difficulty breathing
• Tightness or pain in your chest
• Increasing tiredness
• Coughing at night
• To sleep comfortably, you have to prop yourself up straight
• Gain 2 pounds or more in a day
• Dizziness or fainting
• Urinating less frequently
• Feet or ankles swelling more than usual (shoes may feel tight)