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Warning signs of acute heart failure: Do you know which symptoms can be fatal?
Acute heart failure, also known as Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) in English, is a state in which heart function deteriorates rapidly. Typically, this condition includes symptoms such as dyspnea, edema, and fatigue, posing a potential threat to the patient's life. This article will delve into the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of ADHF, and unravel the warning signs of heart failure so that you can identify them in time.
What is acute heart failure?
Acute heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to circulate blood effectively for a short period of time, causing fluid buildup in multiple vital organs. It is typically characterized by difficulty breathing, swollen limbs, and a persistent feeling of tiredness. This condition can be caused by a variety of factors, common ones including myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, infection, and thyroid disease.
Warning signs and symptoms
The main symptoms of heart failure include chest pain, palpitations, loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, abdominal bloating, fatigue, weakness, and low urine output.
In addition, patients may wake up frequently during the night to urinate, or experience neurological symptoms such as anxiety, memory loss, and confusion. These should be taken seriously as they may indicate that the heart is facing a serious crisis.
Acute pulmonary edema
Flash Pulmonary Edema is a symptom of heart disease and is often accompanied by high blood pressure. This is an acute cardiac condition, usually triggered by a cardiac event, that requires prompt medical attention to calm the condition.
Causes of ADHF
The main causes of acute heart failure include sudden exacerbation of chronic stable heart failure, usually caused by comorbid conditions (such as pneumonia) or myocardial infarction. Other possible triggers include irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, improper fluid management, and certain medications such as NSAIDs or thiazides.
Diagnostic methods
The most sensitive clinical indicator for judging acute heart failure is jugular vein dilation. Doctors usually do other tests to confirm the specific cause.
Treatment Plan
The primary goal in acute heart failure is to restore adequate perfusion and oxygen supply to major organs. This can be done by changing the patient's position, giving oxygen to correct hypoxia, using diuretics such as furosemide, adding ACE inhibitors, etc.
The treatment of acute heart failure usually requires a variety of drugs, such as diuretics and vasodilators, which are adjusted according to the patient's specific symptoms. If necessary, patients may also require further measures such as mechanical ventilation or ultrafiltration.
Drug selection
Diuretics are the mainstay of treatment for heart failure, and intravenous furosemide is usually used as appropriate. In patients with persistent edema, drug doses need to be adjusted based on subsequent response to ensure optimal efficacy.
Other treatment options
If the patient's condition is severe, surgery to repair the heart valve or a heart transplant may be needed to treat the underlying problem.
Advances in new technologies are providing better treatment options that can save more patients from dying from heart failure.
Conclusion
Through the above understanding, I hope it can help you identify the potential dangers and warning signs of heart failure. Remember, you only live once, and timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial. So, how can you pay more attention to heart health and avoid heart failure in your life?
