Is Heart Failure always the same? - Heart Disorders Message Board

MHossa · 06-11-2006, 12:03 AM

I made a topic like this awhile back but I think people misunderstood.

Ok my question. Pretend I am Bob

Say Bob has A-Fib. (I know this is silly but I don't want to die because my stupid doctors didn't catch this problem in my many visits)

Bob is an otherwise healthy young man in his late teens but has this A-Fib for months and it eventually causes Congestive Heart Failure due to the out of control ryhthem damaging the heart.

Bob has his A-Fib treated and cured. However Bob already has Heart Failure caused by his A-Fib. Would Bob's heart continue to weaken after his A-Fib was treated? Or would Bob survive for a long time? I'm asking is all heart failure the same.

started04 · 06-12-2006, 09:55 AM

ALL HEART FAILURE IS THE SAME (meaning heart pumps less than 30% from the left vetricle), but the underlying reason is varied.

Some of the underlying causes for heart failure: valve regurgitation (some blood back flows rather than into circulation) heart failure if severe; coronary artery blockage and then heart muscle damage (heart pump is weak due to an enlarged heart, etc) impaired contractions and heart failure...These would be diastolic heart failure. A-Fib could prevent enough blood getting into the pumping chamber (not enough blood going to the heart and heart muscle damage...heart failure, etc...improper filling would be systole heart failure. The end result is a failure for the cardiac output (less than 30%) to meet the system's need.

Treatment for the underlying cause should prevent, if timely, any damage to heart muscle and slow or prevent any progression of the underlying cause. CHF almost always will be heart muscle damage, an enlarged heart, etc. However, sometimes heart muscle damage is just stunned (hybernating) and when the underlying cause is treated, and there is appropriate blood flow to the heart, the cells could rejuvenate and again contract the heart muscle. May be less effective than before damage or not.

If the heart muscle damage is permanent, contractions may not be strong enough to pump efficiently and treatment to lessen the workload and increase heart contractions are needed. With medication one does not have heart failure as the heart may pump above 30%. Sometimes medication will prevent a return to heart failure or slow progression.

It would be helpful to answer your questions if questions remain on your orginal thread. One would know what has been written and what specifically is not understood. Starting a new thread doesn't help!

footnote: CHF is congested heart failure. The heart fails to pump out enough blood to prevent the blood from backing up, and fluids leak into the lungs (edema) causing breathing problems and a spasms of dry coughing and hyperventilating. The affects of heart failure are varied.