|
  ECG of the Month
|
Heart Failure Treatment
Heart failure occurs when the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood through the body. Usually, the loss in pumping action is a symptom of an underlying heart problem, such as coronary artery disease. The term heart failure suggests a sudden and complete stop of heart activity. But, actually, the heart does not suddenly stop. Rather, heart failure usually develops slowly, often over years, as the heart gradually loses its pumping ability and works less efficiently. Some people may not become aware of their condition until symptoms appear years after their heart began its decline. How serious the condition is depends on how much pumping capacity the heart has lost. Nearly everyone loses some pumping capacity as they age. But the loss is significantly more in heart failure and often results from a heart attack or other disease that damages the heart. The severity of the condition determines the impact it has on a person's life. At one end of the spectrum, the mild form of heart failure may have little effect on a person's life; at the other end, severe heart failure can interfere with even simple activities and prove fatal. Between those extremes, treatment often helps people lead full lives. But all forms of heart failure, even the mildest, are a serious health problem, which must be treated. To improve their chance of living longer, patients must take care of themselves, see their physician regularly, and closely follow treatments. Heart Failure: Questions & Answers Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is the condition in which the muscle of the heart is abnormal.
The term is most commonly used in reference to an abnormally large, baggy heart ("dilated") with reduced ability
to contract.
Causes of cardiomyopathy
Viral infections: A virus can attack the heart muscle and lead to cardiomyopathy.
Often the heart problem does not become obvious until some time after the viral infection itself (months or years).
Alcohol excess: This is a common cause in Australia. In general, 4 drinks or more per day of beer, wine or spirits on a regular
basis, is thought to be enough to damage the heart - sometimes irreversibly. One does not have to be an alcoholic to develop a cardiomyopathy
due to alcohol. Fortunately, if alcohol is stopped entirely, there is a 50%
chance that the heart will recover, often back to normal.
No known cause ("idiopathic"): In a number of cases, even after extensive testing, no likely cause for cardiomyopathy will be found. This
is called "idiopathic"" cardiomyopathy. Perhaps a virus affected the heart some time before, but has now gone, leaving no trace apart
from the weakened heart muscle. Nevertheless, even though the cause is not known, medications are still extremely effective in treating the condition.
There are hundreds of other uncommon causes not listed here. For example, cardiomyopathy may occur in the last few weeks of pregnancy or in the first
few weeks after delivery.
HEART FAILURE RESEARCH
Care of heart failure patients at St Vincent's Hospital is recognised to be of the highest international standard. It offers diagnosis of and prognostication in heart failure, hemodynamic appraisal, and use of maximum oxygen utilisation and functional parameters to assess progress. There is an active research program into novel therapies.
In 1999, trials of new therapies in heart failure include:
Other therapies which continue to be offered include:
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION St Vincent's Hospital is one of the leading centres for the management of pulmonary hypertension in the Southern Hemisphere. Comprehensive diagnostic vasodilator challenges are performed routinely.
Specific treatments offered include:
Contacts: A/Prof Peter Macdonald
Jennifer Harland  Medical treatment Surgical treatment of heart failure Heart Transplant Heart tests Cardiac Catheterization 
|
