Heart Failure Drug Therapy

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

Updated on September 17, 2024

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Due to some myocardial diseases that cause damage to the myocardium, or other reasons that increase the heart's load, heart failure may occur. Clinical treatment involves strengthening the heart and promoting diuresis, improving blood vessel function, increasing the heart’s contractility, reducing the heart’s resistance, and decreasing the volume of blood returning to the heart. Through these effective drug treatments, heart failure can be corrected. Patients with heart failure should avoid excessive fatigue and maintain a low-salt diet to prevent increasing the burden on the heart.

Other Voices

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Written by Zhou Yan

Geriatrics

1min 22sec

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Triggers of acute heart failure

The triggers of acute heart failure include the following aspects: Respiratory infections are the most common and important trigger, and infective endocarditis is also not uncommon. However, due to its concealed onset, it is easily underdiagnosed. The second is arrhythmia, among which atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias in organic heart disease and is also an important factor leading to heart failure. Additionally, rapid arrhythmias can also cause acute heart failure. The third is an increase in blood volume, such as excessive salt intake or excessive or rapid intravenous fluid administration. The fourth is excessive physical exertion or emotional excitement, such as during late pregnancy or childbirth. The fifth aspect is improper treatment, inappropriate use of diuretics or antihypertensive drugs, which can also trigger an episode of acute heart failure. Furthermore, whether it is an exacerbation of existing heart disease or complications with other diseases, such as coronary heart disease with myocardial infarction, rheumatic disease becoming active, or complications with hyperthyroidism or anemia, can all cause acute heart failure.

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Written by Liu Ying

Cardiology

47sec

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Can heart failure be cured?

We say that some early-stage heart failure can be cured, such as peripartum cardiomyopathy and thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy. If discovered and treated early, there is hope for a cure. However, most heart failure cannot be cured. Although some psychological failures cannot be cured, if patients can receive early treatment and effective treatment, take their medication on time, and have regular check-ups as advised by their doctor, most heart failure can still be controlled or alleviated. However, if heart failure is detected and not actively treated, even mild heart failure may gradually worsen, or even become end-stage heart failure.

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Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

39sec

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Acute heart failure typical symptoms

The typical symptoms of acute heart failure include sudden severe difficulty breathing, increased respiratory rate, and patients generally presenting a forced sitting position, with pale, grayish complexion and cyanotic lips. They often have profuse sweating, restlessness, frequent coughing, and coughing up pink frothy sputum. The condition can be critical, leading to consciousness disturbances due to lack of oxygen. Once acute heart failure occurs, active treatment is essential. The most common clinical approaches include strengthening the heart, diuresis, and vasodilation for symptomatic active management.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

53sec

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Can childbirth lead to heart failure?

Childbirth refers to the delivery of a fetus through vaginal delivery or cesarean section, and it represents a significant strain on a woman’s heart. Regardless of the type of delivery, there is a possibility of leading to heart failure to some extent. Especially during the second stage of labor, pregnant women often exert greater effort, significantly increasing the load on the heart. If there is poor heart function or pre-existing cardiac disease, it could lead to heart failure. In some cases, if the heart disease is severe and cannot withstand delivery, a cesarean section must be chosen. However, cesarean delivery can also lead to heart failure, mainly due to a large amount of blood flowing back to the peripheral circulation from the uterus after the fetus is delivered, causing a significant increase in the preload on the heart and easily leading to the onset of heart failure.

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Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

45sec

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Is the heart rate fast or slow in heart failure?

Heart failure is also relatively common in clinical practice, primarily due to dysfunction in the heart's contractile or relaxation capabilities. This leads to ineffective expulsion of venous blood returning to the heart, resulting in venous congestion and a series of symptoms. Patients typically experience varying degrees of breathing difficulty, coughing, expectoration, coughing up pink frothy sputum, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. Following the onset of heart failure, a patient's heart rate generally increases as a compensatory response to promote increased cardiac output. If a patient enters the terminal stage of heart failure, a decrease in heart rate may occur, and can even lead to death.