Heart failure and heart attack are both forms of heart disease. They have some common causes. But they also differ in key ways. Most heart attacks happen suddenly when one of the arteries leading to the heart becomes blocked and cuts off the blood flow. Without oxygen,
the heart muscles start to die. Heart failure, on the other hand, usually develops gradually. The heart muscle becomes weaker and has trouble pumping blood to nourish the cells in your body. This is a chronic condition that gradually gets worse. But medications can help you live longer and better with it. Heart attacks can lead to heart failure by weakening the heart's pumping ability.
Sometimes, heart failure comes on suddenly after a heart attack. Usually the symptoms are severe at first. This is called acute heart failure. But you can get better quickly with treatment and medication. Coronary artery disease is at the root of both heart attack and heart failure. This happens when a build-up over time
of plaque from fat and other substances makes your arteries grow narrower or harder. Causes of heart attack Usually you have a heart attack after a piece of the plaque breaks off. It then forms a blood clot, which stops the flow of blood. Sometimes, a spasm in a coronary artery can trigger a heart attack even if you don't have hardening of the arteries. Very rarely, a
heart attack might happen because of a tear in the walls of the coronary artery. This is called spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Causes of heart failure Over time, if your heart is pushing blood through a narrow, blocked space, it becomes weaker. If it's not able to get enough blood supply, it can start to fail. Heart failure can also stem from other conditions. They include:
Heart Attack SymptomsSymptoms of a heart attack vary from person to person. They also can be different for men and women. But some signs of heart attacks are more common than others. They include:
If you have heart failure, you'll likely notice more than one of
these classic symptoms:
Heart Attack TreatmentsHeart attacks need to be treated right away. Call 911 even if you only suspect you're having one. Paramedics will probably give you blood-thinning aspirin to prevent any more clots and nitroglycerin to help blood flow. Your long-term treatment will depend on the cause, but many people recover well from a heart attack. You may need a procedure to open the blocked artery. With percutaneous coronary intervention, a surgeon threads a tube into the blocked artery. Then they expand a tiny balloon attached to the end of the tube to open the artery. At the same time, they may put a tiny mesh tube called a stent in to keep the artery propped open. Your doctor could suggest coronary artery bypass grafting. The surgeon takes out a healthy blood vessel and attaches it to the damaged vessel to create a detour for the blood. Your doctor will probably prescribe some long-term medications. They include drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. They may also suggest you learn how to manage your underlying heart disease through diet and exercise. Heart Failure TreatmentsDoctors prescribe many of the same drugs used for heart attacks for heart failure. This includes drugs to lower blood pressure or to slow your heart rate. Often, you'll take diuretic pills to get rid of extra water. That will ease swelling and shortness of breath. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, losing weight, cutting salt, and exercising also can help make things easier on your heart. As heart failure gets worse, you may need surgery to get a device that will help your heart. For instance, a pacemaker implanted in your heart can keep your heart pumping in rhythm. An implanted defibrillator can steady heartbeats. For very advanced heart failure, you may need a pump to keep your heart working. In severe cases, a heart transplant may be possible. Does cardiomyopathy equal heart failure?Heart failure occurs when conditions such as cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease, or congenital heart disease damage the heart, reducing its ability to pump blood to the body.
Is congestive heart failure the same as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?Symptoms of heart failure develop. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), in contrast to the congestive type, involves thickening of the heart muscle, usually that of the left ventricle, but sometimes the right chamber is also involved.
What is congestive cardiomyopathy?Congestive cardiomyopathy is a clinical state in which an abnormality of ventricular myocardium results in impaired pump function and circulatory congestion. Multiple factors have been incriminated in the etiology and progression of the myocardial damage.
What are the 2 types of congestive heart failure?Systolic CHF - Systolic CHF occurs when the left ventricle is unable to contract with enough force to circulate blood properly. Diastolic CHF - Diastolic CHF occurs when the heart muscle becomes stiff.
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