Congestive heart failure (CHF) or just heart failure is a condition that can result from any structural or functional disorder of the heart that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood through the body.
Congestive heart failure is often undiagnosed due to a lack of a universally agreed definition and difficulties in diagnosis, particularly when the condition is considered "mild". Even with the best therapy, heart failure is associated with an annual mortality of 10% and is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65.
Symptoms
The symptoms depend largely on the side of the heart that is failing predominantly. If both sides are functioning inadequately, symptoms and signs from both categories may be present.
Given that the left side of the heart pumps blood from the lungs to the organs, failure to do so leads to congestion of the lung veins and symptoms that reflect this, as well as reduced supply of blood to the tissues. The predominant respiratory symptom is shortness of breath on exertion (dyspnea) - or in severe cases at rest - and easy fatigueability. Breathlessness on reclining may occur, measured in the number of pillows required to lie comfortably. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a nighttime attack of severe breathlessness, usually several hours after going to sleep. Poor circulation to the body leads to dizziness, confusion and diaphoresis and cool extremities at rest.
The right side of the heart pumps blood returned from the tissues to the lungs to exchange CO2 for O2. Hence, failure of the right side leads to congestion of peripheral tissues. This may lead to peripheral edema or anasarca (swelling) and nocturia (frequent nighttime urination when the fluid from the legs is returned to the bloodstream). In more severe cases, ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity) and hepatomegaly (painful enlargement of the liver) may develop.
Heart failure may become worse easily as the result of any illness (such as pneumonia), but more specifically due to myocardial infarction (a heart attack), anemia, hyperthyroidism or arrhythmias. Excessive fluid or salt intake (including intravenous fluids for unrelated indications), and medication that cause fluid retention may also precipitate decompensation.
If you suspect any of these signs of congestive heart failure, your doctor should see you immediately at a health care facility.
Congenital heart disease (CHD)
Congenital heart disease is heart disease in the newborn, and includes structural defects, congenital arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies. CHD is a defect of the heart that exists primarily at birth, and can describe a wide variety of different abnormalities affecting the heart. CHD occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart does not develop properly before birth. Therefore, the heart does not pump because it is not completely developed. Also the blood flow is obstructed in the heart of the vessels nearby, causing an abnormal flow of blood through the heart. Blood flow obstructions put a strain on the heart muscle causing the heart to work harder and beat faster. Abnormal blood flow usually occurs when there is a hole in the walls of the heart and may be an abnormal connection between two arteries outside the heart.
Many of these congenital heart disorders can arise due to the absence or dysfunction of connexin molecules both genetically and in utero.
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