An inability of the heart to pump blood around the body effectively.
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What happens when you have right sided heart failure?
Fluid build up in the body - oedema- typically in the legs.
Peripheral oedema which may be pitting.
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What happens when you have left sided heart failure?
Fluid build up - oedema - in lungs
Pulmonary oedema
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What is congestive cardiac failure?
Failure of both sides of the heart
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What are the most important investigations for heart failure?
BNP (brain natriuretic peptide)
Echocardiogram
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Why is BNP a good investigation for heart failure?
BNP is a good indication for heart failure as it is only released from cardiomyocytes in response to stretch or strain, so it tells us if the heart is over exerting itself (increased ventricular blood volume)
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What is ejection fraction?
How well blood is pumped out the left ventricle with each beat.
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What is Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)?
The heart muscle is not able to contract adaquately and therefore expels less oxygen-rich blood.
Affects more men than women
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What is Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)?
Heart muscles contract normally but thickened mucle causes the ventricles to hold an abnormally small volume of blood.
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What are the symptoms of left sided heart failure?
Breathlessness, lying flat cough with pink sputum, tiredness, lightheadness and fainting
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What are the symptoms of right sided heart failure?
Heavy painful legs, difficulty walking, skin infections, tiredness, lightheadness and fainting
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