What Is Congestive Heart Failure, And What Are The Treatment Options?
Congestive heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump well enough to distribute blood and oxygen to the tissues of the body. It can be caused by a number of factors. The most common is chronic hypertension, or high blood pressure. Other conditions that may lead to heart failure are coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, valve disease and either very fast or very slow heart rhythms. There are many treatment options for heart failure, including: Medical management with drugs such as ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors. Repair or replacement of damaged valves. Coronary artery bypass graft. Cardiomyoplasty, or the use of skeletal muscle to assist the heart. Heart transplantation, reserved as a last mode of therapy.
