What Happens in Heart Failure?

In heart failure, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, baroreceptor function weakens and neurohormonal changes take place.

This shows itself through the following symptoms:

swelling (edema)

shortness of breath

fatigue

congestive crackles in the lungs

weakness on physical exertion

Patients become extremely intolerant of physical exertion. The disease is characterized by fluid retention in the body and reduced life expectancy.

The main causes of heart failure are:

anemia

cardiac trauma

thyrotoxic heart disease

severe arrhythmias

cardiac tamponade

acute myocardial infarction

left ventricular damage

rupture of the papillary muscles

sudden onset of bradycardia

rupture of the interventricular septum

paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia

pulmonary embolism