Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure  (Heart Failure)

 When the pumping action is not strong enough, there is inadequate emptying of one or more chambers of the heart, which leads to a decrease in circulating blood. This can cause shortness of breath, swelling of the feet and legs, persistent coughing, a rapid heartbeat, frequent hospitalizations and even death.

At Forsyth Medical Center, however, congestive heart failure patients have access to the hospital's dedicated Heart Failure Program, which was founded in 1999 and includes an outpatient heart failure clinic.  The Heart Failure Program was recently the first in the Carolinas to receive National Certification from the Joint Commission.  This program is designed to help patients understand and manage heart failure.  Learn More

Causes of congestive heart failure

Many disease processes may lead to the development of congestive heart failure, including, but not limited to:

• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Coronary artery disease (angina)
• Hypertension
• Valvular heart disease
• Pulmonary embolus
• Infection -- pericarditis, endocarditis, myocarditis
• Anemia
• Alcohol/drug-related problems
• Renal failure

Visit our Health Library for answers to specific questions about cardiovascular disease. Visit our Health Library for answers.

Hospitalized patients

• Symptoms that require hospitalization include:
• Excessive weight gain, unrelieved by home diuretic therapy
• Chest pain
•  
  Increasing shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Inability to sleep

What to expect in the hospital

• All liquid intake and outputs will be measured. Liquid intake may be limited.
• You will be weighed daily. This is a good measure of patient's fluid levels.
• Frequent drawing of blood to monitor critical electrolytes
• Chest x-rays
• Electrocardiogram or Cardiac catheterization, if required

Discharge

Once the patient has developed the ability to regulate his/her own medications and tolerate limited activities of daily living, he/she is usually discharged. However, a patient must continue to comply with his/her treatment plan at home.

We offer telephone follow-up for CHF patients, which involves a series of calls to patients to answer patients' questions, identify and treat problems, refer critical patients to their primary care physicians, and ensure that patients understand how to manage their conditions. If you would like more information, please see your physician.

Managing congestive heart failure

• Continue all treatment started in the hospital at home according to discharge instructions.
• Patients should weigh themselves daily and will be provided a Weight Tracker to assist in monitoring weight and remind them to record their weight. Your nurse will discuss fluid intake limits with you prior to discharge.
• It is important for patients to follow diet instructions to limit sodium intake. Choose foods with less than 200 mg of sodium per serving. The lower the better.
• Medications are an important part of the patient's treatment plan and following instructions is extremely important. If you have any questions about your medications, please ask your physician.

What is EECP?

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive therapy for patients suffering with angina pectoris (severe chest pain).  EECP involves the inflation and deflation of three sets of compressive cuffs wrapped around the patient's calves, lower thighs and upper thighs. Cuffs inflate sequentially from the calves to the upper thighs and buttocks to raise diastolic coronary perfusion pressure and increase venous return. Cuffs deflate at the onset of systole producing significant left ventricular unloading with an associated decrease in cardiac workload.