Congestive heart failure, or heart failure, is a long-term condition in which your heart can’t pump blood well enough to meet our body’s needs. Our heart is still working. But because it can’t handle the amount of blood it should, blood builds up in other parts of our body.
At the fundamental level, the heart is a pump. Blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs to get oxygen, sent back to the heart, and then sent everywhere else in the body.
But the heart is not invulnerable. It can be subject to numerous forms of distress that impede its ability to function properly and put life at risk.
“Heart attack,” “cardiac arrest,” and “heart failure” and “Congestive Heart Failure” are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably.
Medically, above three are very specific terms that refer to different conditions. And one of them, heart failure, is the leading cause of hospitalizations for over the age of 65.
A bit of clarification of Congestive Heart Failure is:
Heart attack:
A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the main cause of heart attack.
Something is physically obstructing the blood flow to the heart. If the blockage is not removed quickly, portions of the heart will begin to die. This can be analogized as a “plumbing problem.” It is not always fatal, but can cause long-term damage if not resolved quickly.
During cardiac arrest:
A cardiac arrest is when heart suddenly stops pumping blood around body. When heart stops pumping blood, brain is starved of oxygen. This causes patient to fall unconscious and stop breathing.
An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. If patient have an arrhythmia, hie/her heart may beat faster or slower than others without arrhythmia.
There are several different conditions might cause heart to beat abnormally, and treatment depends on the cause.
• Congestive heart failure:
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of patient’s heart muscle. While often referred to simply as heart failure, CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up within the heart and causes it to pump inefficiently.
Congestive heart failure can be compared to a “mechanical problem.” Despite the rather sudden-sounding name, this is actually a chronic condition.
Shocking:
Heart disease kills one in four patients, it might be shocking to hear that prevention is not a big priority for most. In fact, only three percent of patients (adults) practice the “big four” habits of heart disease prevention:
Eating a healthy diet, participating in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying away from smoking.
What’s scary is that most people don’t even know the warning signs of heart disease.
They think that the symptoms, like lightheadedness, regular aches and pains, and acid reflux, are often overlooked as stress-related or part of aging.
Furthermore, men experience different symptoms than women. Men tend to experience the more traditional chest pain that you see in the movies.
Whereas women don’t. Their symptoms might appear as back pain or acid reflux, or it may feel like normal stress. And some patients (female) don’t experience symptoms at all, making coronary heart disease the “silent killer.”
What Happens During Congestive Heart Failure?
The heart has four chambers: the atria (the upper two chambers of the heart) and two ventricles in the lower half.
The atria receive blood and the ventricles send it back out. In congestive heart failure (CHF), the ventricles are unable to pump a sufficient volume of blood.
Congestive heart failure has two subtypes: left-sided and right-sided, depending on which of the ventricles is pumping improperly.
The two can occur in tandem or on their own. Left-sided CHF is more common. In both forms of CHF, blood will build up in the blood vessels and result in fluid retention. The location this happens in depends on which ventricle is affected, as they send blood to different areas.
Symptoms:
Many of the symptoms of congestive heart failure are the same across both types.
Initial symptoms — mainly fatigue from reduced blood flow and fluid retention—causes an increased need to urinate (polyuria), that tends to happen especially at night. The retained fluid may also cause weight gain. Since the body’s need for oxygen and nutrients increases during physical activity, an inability to tolerate exercise or other forms of exertion can appear as well.
In left-sided CHF, the blood supply to the lungs is the most affected. Fluid will build up in the lungs over time (edema)
In right-sided CHF, the blood supply to the lower extremities is affected. The fluid retention results in swelling in the ankles, feet, and legs. The swelling will be most noticeable after a period of sitting.
In right-sided CHF, pitting edema can develop. This is when pressing down on the skin in the swollen areas leaves a mark that stays visible for a few seconds/minutes before fading.
As heart failure progresses, a noticeably irregular heartbeat (palpitations) can be felt, and a racing pulse can occur. At the most severe stages, patients can develop radiating chest pain, rapid breathing, blue-tinged skin from lack of oxygen (cyanosis), and fainting spells.
Causes of Congestive Heart Failure 
CHF requires that something either damages or weakens the ventricles, so it can result from a few different cardiovascular conditions, among other factors.
• Cardiomyopathy:
This is a catch-all term for any damage to the heart that is not caused by blood flow or arterial problems. It is a progressive condition where the heart is abnormally enlarged, stiff, or thickened. This compromises the ability to pump blood and can lead to congestive heart failure. Cardiomyopathy can be caused by certain infections, alcoholism, or drug use.
• Heart attack:
As mentioned initially, a heart attack is when an obstruction causes part of the heart to begin to die. If not treated quickly enough, long-term damage—such as a weakened ventricle—can occur.
• Valve conditions:
The heart valves open and close to regulate the amount of blood that passes through the heart. Damage, disease, or genetic conditions can result in valves that do not function correctly. This can strain the ventricles and impair their pumping ability.
• High blood pressure:
Increased blood pressure, regardless of the cause, can result in thickening of parts of the heart muscle. This is specifically called left ventricular hypertrophy.
A diagnosis is made by a combination of blood tests, stress tests, chest x-rays, heart ultrasound, and angiography.
Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure
The available treatments largely depend on the exact cause of the CHF. Generally, the three main goals of any CHF treatment are to correct the cause, ease symptoms, and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Surgery or catheterization can be used to repair damage to certain parts of the heart muscle or to relieve blockages. In extreme cases, a heart transplant or valve replacement operation can be performed.
Lifestyle changes can be made to avoid aggravating factors, like alcohol or high blood pressure. Special diets are sometimes devised as well.
Excess fluid can be drained or diuretics can be used to increase the amount released through urination.
Medications are used to either help resolve the underlying condition or to better manage the CHF symptoms. Certain inhibitors can open up narrowed blood vessels.
• Pacemakers can be used to help manage the heart rate and keep it from becoming too uncoordinated.
• CHF puts the patient at an increased risk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm and going into cardiac arrest. To help manage this, sometimes an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is implanted.
As the name might suggest, this is a sort of internal defibrillator that is installed as part of a pacemaker and will detect and apply shocks to life-threatening arrhythmias. Only certain forms of CHF with underlying cardiac causes qualify for an ICD.
The overall prognosis depends on a mixture of how early the CHF is detected, the underlying cause, how well the patient sticks to the treatment, and if they have any accompanying conditions like diabetes.
Stages: 
As a gradual condition, congestive heart failure is defined by a series of stages depending on how far the symptoms have progressed. The stage of CHF that a patient is in is both an off-hand indicator of the severity of their condition, as well as a determinant of what kinds of treatments are available.
• Stage one:
This is a “pre-stage.” In stage one, the patient has not developed any of the ventricular symptoms of CHF and shows no physical or activity limitations, but instead shows several high risk signs.
These indicators can include high blood pressure, family history of cardiomyopathy, diabetes, coronary artery disease, a personal history of alcohol abuse, or having taken drugs known to damage the heart. Medications offered at this point are ones used to treat underlying cardiac or blood pressure issues, if any.
• Stage two:
This is when a ventricular dysfunction has been diagnosed, but before the main physical symptoms develop. There is a slight limitation in physical ability and symptoms will appear on occasion during normal activities.
Patients in this category are often those who have suffered damage from a prior heart attack, a valve disease, or cardiomyopathy. The same treatment options from stage one apply here, as well as possible surgery for coronary repair.
• Stage three:
When symptoms finally appear and a distinct limitation on activities begins, patients are said to be in stage three. Fluids have begun to build up in the body and cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and/or a reduced tolerance for physical exertion.
Stage one treatments still apply. Diuretics are employed to help eliminate the excess fluids. Additional dietary restrictions, like reduced sodium, are introduced as well, along with regular weight monitoring to keep an eye on the fluid build-up.
• Stage four:
Stage four requires not only the advanced symptoms to appear, but needs them to have manifested, despite the patient having received optimal medical care. The symptoms are pronounced enough now that they produce extreme limitations and commonly appear when the person is at rest. At this point, although the treatments from all prior stages are still used as much as possible, more dramatic interventions are considered. Heart transplants, pacemakers, additional surgeries, or clinical trials can be considered. In the most advanced cases, palliative or hospice care is offered.
Homoeopathic Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure:
Aurum metallicum
Aurum metallicum is a beneficial homoeopathic medication for heart problems. This remedy is good if you have any of the following conditions mentioned below:
- Sensations as if your heart stopped beating for two to three seconds, instantly followed by a tumultuous rebound.
- Oppression at the heart
- Pulse rapid, irregular, and feeble
- High blood pressure
Digitalis purpurea
Digitalis is a fantastic homoeopathic solution for the conditions mentioned below:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Sensation as if your heart will stop beating if you move
- Weak heart
- Minimum movement brings violent palpitations
- Frequent stitches in your heart
Strophanthus:
It is a beneficial homoeopathic solution to treat heart failure with:
- Lag’s oedema
- The heart is weak, irregular, rapid because of insufficiency and muscle weakness.
- Rapid pulse frequently changing to slow, small, weak, and irregular
Laurocerasus
Laurocerasus is the best homoeopathic medications for heart failure with:
- Pain in the heart region
- There is a clutching feeling in the heart and palpitations as well
- Your pulse is weak, slow, variable, or irregular
- You feel suffocation, palpitations, and fainting
Crataegus oxy
Crataegus is seen as a heart tonic, it is good for conditions where:
- Heart muscles feel flabby, worn down
- Heart weakness with oppression, insomnia, and stitches
- Extreme tightness of the chest without pulse increase
Cardus marianus
Carduus marianus is a beneficial homoeopathic medication for heart failure with:
- Liver complaints
- Pain stitches and pressure in the heart region
- Oppression over deep breathing
Naja tripudians
Naja is suitable for heart failure with:
- Valvular disorders and weakness
- Visible palpitations
- Injured heart after infectious diseases
Now that you know, homoeopathy offers a solution for heart failures, visit your homoeopathy clinic in Aurangabad today. They will help you understand your condition and provide an individualized treatment plan.
Butter Can Reduce Your Heart Disease Risk
Saturated fats often get a bad rap. Claims over the last 30 years have falsely linked fat and saturated fats to an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and high cholesterol. But that’s not true. Fat is actually vital to a healthy diet, and the right types of saturated fats can even provide important health benefits. For thousands of years, the ancient traditions of Herbal and Ayurvedic medicine have referred to a particular saturated fat as “liquid gold” with incredible healing powers.This saturated fat can even reduce your risk of heart disease.What is it? It is clarified butter, commonly known as daisee ghee.The regular consumption of daisee ghee could lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. The ghee also remarkably decreased serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), which are all factors for an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
A preliminary study published in the Journal of Dairy & Bioscience also showed that high doses of medicated ghee helped to lower serum cholesterol, cholesterol esters, triglycerides, and phospholipids in patients with psoriasis, which supports a decreased risk of developing heart disease.
Daisee Ghee has also been shown to improve the appearance of skin, reducing pruritis (itching), scaling, and erythema (redness). The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in daisee ghee can also reduce inflammation, as a result, heart disease may be prevented.
What makes clarified butter different from regular butter is that daisee ghee has removed the casein protein, lactose, and other dairy solids, so it can serve as a good butter substitute for those who are lactose-intolerant.
Daisee ghee is also pure butterfat and can be used for cooking at higher temperatures, with a smoke point of 485 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter will often burn at high temperatures.
Daisee ghee also has several other health benefits:
- Aid digestion
- Enhance memory and intelligence
- Treat anemia, blood disorders, and chronic fevers
Ghee is also high in butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that inhibits cancer growth and contains antiviral properties. Butyric acid can also prevent and reverse the effects of weight gain.
Sounds like “liquid gold” to me. But where do you find such a powerful food?
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
Location: Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
Find more about Dr Sayed Qaisar Ahmed at:
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