congestive heart failure

Congestive Heart Failure
By: Ashley George
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), also known as cardiac failure, is one of the most common causes of in-hospital mortality for patients with cardiac diseases. Despite advances in the medical management of cardiovascular diseases, CHF is being encountered with greater frequency, due in part to our aging population (Smith, 1996). One third of the patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) die of CHF. It is also the second most common complication after myocardial infarction (MI). Men are affected more than women. The 5 year mortality rate for men is 60% and about 45% for women (Thelan, Davie, Urden, and Lough, 1994). However, among those with advanced cardiac failure showing overt symptoms, greater than 50% of them die within a year.
DEFINITION
Congestive Heart Failure indicates the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s metabolic requirements for oxygen and nutrients leading to discrepancies between myocardi...