Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) is a progressive condition where the heart's pumping efficiency drops, limiting oxygen and blood delivery. Because blood returns to the heart faster than it can be pumped out, fluid backs up, causing the "congestion" in congestive heart failure
Critical Warning Signs and Thresholds
Sudden Weight Gain: Increases of >= 1.5 kg ( 3 lbs ) in one day or >= 2.2 kg (5 lbs) in a single week typically indicate worsening fluid retention.
Ejection Fraction (EF): This is a measurement, typically expressed as a percentage, of the blood pumped out of the filled ventricle with each heartbeat.
HFrEF: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (= 40%).
Blood Pressure Targets: Maintain blood pressure below 130 / 80 mmHg as recommended by cardiology guidelines
Management and Treatment
While there is no cure, highly effective therapies can slow progression and improve your quality of life. Treatment is highly personalized to your specific condition and stage of disease:
Sodium Restriction: Limit daily sodium intake to <= 2,000 mg to minimize fluid accumulation.
Medications: Doctors often prescribe a combination of American Heart Association Guidelines for medications, such as diuretics (to reduce fluid), ACE inhibitors or ARBs (to widen blood vessels), beta-blockers (to slow the heart rate), and SGLT2 inhibitors
Lifestyle Adjustments: Reducing sodium (salt) intake, limiting daily fluid intake, quitting smoking, and engaging in light, doctor-approved exercise.
Devices and Surgery: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) or pacemakers (CRT) may be used to regulate heart rhythms, while advanced cases may require bypass surgery or a heart transplant.
