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The Medical Management of Heart Failure.

Authors :
Willerson, James T.
Wellens, Hein J. J.
Holmes, David R.
Cohn, Jay N.
Source :
Cardiovascular Medicine; 2007, p1397-1416, 20p
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

The management of chronic heart failure has two goals. One is to produce short-term relief of symptoms and improvement in quality of life. The other is to slow or halt the progressive process of cardiac and peripheral dysfunction in heart failure that leads to long-term disability and shortened life expectancy. The former strategy is confined to patients with symptoms of heart failure; this may include exertional intolerance, shortness of breath or orthopnea, peripheral edema, or fatigue. It is important to recognize that not all heart failure is accompanied by congestive symptoms. Furthermore, some symptoms of heart failure may be subtle, leading to a reduced quality of life without the usual overt manifestations of heart failure. Therapy aimed at slowing progression of the disease is applicable in patients without symptoms as well as in those with symptoms. Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction may long antedate overt symptoms of heart failure, and the progressive nature of this LV dysfunction can potentially be prevented by aggressive therapeutic efforts. Indeed, treatment of heart failure symptoms must be accompanied by aggressive attempts to prevent progression of the disease, because the presence of symptoms identifies a patient whose condition is likely to progress in the absence of aggressive intervention. We therefore divide the therapeutic approaches for heart failure into these two separate categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISBNs :
9781846281884
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Cardiovascular Medicine
Publication Type :
Book
Accession number :
34136014
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-715-2_66