Heart Failure

• Heart failure - known as congestive heart failure occur when the heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. When this happens, blood often backs up and fluid can build in the lungs, causing shortness of breath.
• SYMPTOMS OF HEART FAILURE

  • Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Reduced ability to exercise
  • Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged mucus
  • Swelling of the belly area (abdomen)
  • Very rapid weight gain from fluid buildup
  • Nausea and lack of appetite
  • Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
  • Chest pain if heart failure is caused by a heart attack
• CONDITIONS THAT CAN DAMAGE OR WEAKEN THE HEART AND CAUSE HEART FAILURE:

  • Coronary artery disease and heart attack
  • High blood pressure
  • Faulty heart valves
  • Damage to the heart muscles
  • Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
  • Congenital heart defect
  • Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
  • Other disease: diabetes, HIV, overactive or underactive thyroid, buildup of iron or protein
• BETA BLOCKERS – these drugs slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure.
• BETA BLOCKERS

  Carvedilol

  Metoprolol

  Bisoprolol

  Atenolol
• S/E OF BETA BLOCKERS

  1. Feeling tired, dizzy, or lightheadedness (these can be signs of a slow heart rate)
  2. Cold fingers or toes (beta blockers may affect the blood supply to your hands and feet)
  3. Difficulties sleeping or nightmares
  4. Feeling sick
• RARE SIDE EFFECTS OF BETA BLOCKERS

  1. Shortness of breath
  2. Tightening of the chest
  3. Yellow skin
  4. Swollen ankles or legs
  5. Chest pain
  6. Irregular heartbeats
• BETA BLOCKERS

  Monitor patient for bradycardia and hypotension, including orthostatic hypotension. Advise to change position slowly to avoid orthostatic hypotension.
• BETA BLOCKERS

  Check blood sugar regularly. It masks symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetics.
• Digoxin (lanoxin) – also called digitalis, increases the strength of the heart muscle contractions. It also tends to slow the heartbeat.
• S/E OF DIGOXIN

  1. Nausea
  2. Vomiting
  3. Headache
  4. Dizziness
  5. Loss of appetite
  6. diarrhea
• DIGOXIN

  Take this drug 2 hours before or after eating food products that are high in fiber.
• Hydralazine and Isosorbide dinitrate – this drug combination helps relax blood vessels and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload.
• S/E OF HYDRALAZINE AND ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE

  1. Blurred vision
  2. Confusion
  3. Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  4. Sweating
  5. Unusual tiredness or weakness
• LESS BUT COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF HYDRALAZINE & ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE

  1. Fainting
  2. Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  3. Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles” , or tingling feelings
  4. Cough
  5. Pain, tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
  6. Stuffy or runny nose
  7. More common side effects:
  8. Constipation
  9. Headache
  10. Nausea or vomiting
• HYDRALAZINE & ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE

  Do not take avanafil, riociguat, sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil while using this drug. This may cause blurred vision, severe dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.