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Congestive Heart Failure
What is it?
Congestive heart failure happens when the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's other organs. This may be caused by many things, such as birth defects, heart valve disease and infected heart muscle.
The heart still works, but not as well as it should. Infants have trouble feeding and gaining weight. Young children tend to have problems with breathing too fast and tire easily.
As blood flowing out of the heart slows, it causes a backup with blood returning to the heart. This causes congestion in the tissues. Edema usually happens in the legs and ankles and other parts of the body like the liver and kidneys.
Birth defects are the most common cause for heart failure in babies and children. Diseases of the heart muscle, such as myocarditis or cardiomyopathies, also may cause heart failure. Also, heart failure may happen after open heart repair of birth defects.
Other heart conditions that happen after birth may also lead to congestive heart failure. High blood pressure from any cause may also lead to heart failure because of long-term resistance in the blood vessels.
How is it treated?
Many different treatments are used to lower the workload of the heart by controlling extra salt and water and improving the heart's ability to pump. Diuretics help the kidneys rid the body of extra salt and water.
This lowers the amount of fluid in the lungs to lower blood pressure and improve circulation.
Other medicines are used to control the heart's contractions. Treating high blood pressure or replacing a heart valve can help some people with congestive heart failure.
If the heart is too damaged, a heart transplant may be needed.