• Heart valve repair or replacement is recommended when there is an underlying condition that needs to be treated.
• Coronary bypass surgery is performed if the disease has resulted from severely constricted coronary arteries that obstruct the blood flow from the heart.
• Heart transplant surgery is performed on an individual who has severe congestive heart failure.
• Myectomy is done in an attempt to reduce the obstruction caused by an overgrown septal muscle in the heart.
Using Medications as Treatment
In the case of heart failure, medications are prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms and also to help improve circulation, prevent blocked arteries and to lower blood pressure. Blood thinners are sometimes prescribed to prevent blood clots.
Some of the medications commonly used include:
• Beta blockers: These lower blood pressure, slow down the heart rate and reduce the risk of irregular heart rhythms.
• ACE: (Angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors: Boost blood flow, lower blood pressure and decrease the heart's overall work load.
• Aldosterone antagonists: These help boost the heart's efficiency and reverse scarring of the heart.
• Digoxin: Also known as digitalis, this slows down the heartbeat and increases the strength of the heart's contractions.
• Inotropes: Used in severe cases, these intravenous medications are used to regulate blood pressure and to improve heart pumping action.
• Diuretics: These prevent collection of fluid in the body and make breathing easier by decreasing fluid in the lungs
Medical Devices Uses as Treatment
• Ventricular Assist Devices or VADs are essentially mechanical heart pumps that are implanted into the abdomen and attached to the heart to help the weakened heart to pump blood efficiently.
• A Cardiac Resynchronization therapy (CRT) device works by sending regularly timed electrical impulses to the lower chambers of the heart and are suitable for moderate to severe cases.
• An Internal Defibrillator (ICD) is implanted under the skin and works by sending electrical signals to the heart when it detects an irregular or high rhythm.
A recent study concludes cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can be effective in treating certain patients with mild heart failure (HF), according to a presentation at the American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session.
The MADIT-CRT trial investigated the use of CRT in treating patients with mild HF and concluded that the additional therapy was useful for patients with a specific condition called left bundle branch block (LBBB).
The study found patients who did not have this condition did not benefit from CRT and it may actually increase certain risks in patients who do not have the LBBB condition.
CRT involves placing a small pacemaker below the collarbone to monitor heart rate and correct abnormal heart rhythms.
It is currently used primarily for patients with abnormal heart rhythms and moderate to severe cardiac failure. Results were met with positive response from cardiologists, but they said further research is needed to better understand when CRT is appropriate for patients with mild heart failure.
The study found participants with the LBBB condition who received the CRT had a 41% reduced risk of death as compared to patients who received only the traditional ICD.
The study was the longest follow-up of CRT for patients with mild heart failure yet. This study was the first to demonstrate significant survival benefits of CRT for patients with mild symptoms or patients with no symptoms but with cardiac dysfunction.
Nearly 5 million Americans currently live with heart failure.
CRT is a common therapy for patients with moderate to severe heart failure and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and has been shown to improve outcomes for this population.
An ICD is a device that uses electrical pulses or shocks to help patients maintain normal heart rhythms.
Tag :
Health,
heart failure
0 Komentar untuk "How to Treat Heart Failure With Mild CRT"