What is congestive heart failure? How does it cause edema and swelling in the legs? Learn about the types, symptoms, and treatment options for managing heart failure and related edema.

Understanding Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when the heart muscle weakens and is unable to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. This leads to a buildup of fluid, especially in the lungs and legs, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling.

Types of Heart Failure

There are two main types of heart failure: left-sided and right-sided. Left-sided failure causes fluid to back up into the lungs, leading to shortness of breath. Right-sided failure causes fluid to build up in the veins and capillaries, leading to swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.

Causes of Congestive Heart Failure

CHF can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, heart valve diseases, and certain chronic illnesses like diabetes and sleep apnea. These conditions weaken or stiffen the heart muscle, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively.

Symptoms of Heart Failure

The hallmark symptoms of CHF include shortness of breath, persistent coughing or wheezing, swelling in the legs and feet, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Patients may also experience chest pain, especially if the heart failure is caused by a heart attack.

Diagnosis and Testing

Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose CHF, including physical exams, blood tests, electrocardiograms, and imaging scans like echocardiograms. These help determine the underlying cause and severity of the heart failure.

Treatment Options

Treatment for CHF typically involves a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, medical devices or procedures. The goal is to manage symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and improve quality of life.

Hospice Care for Heart Failure

Hospice programs, like the one offered by Hospice of Huntington, can provide specialized care and support for patients with advanced heart failure. This can include symptom management, caregiver education, and coordination of end-of-life care.

What is the difference between left-sided and right-sided heart failure? Left-sided failure causes fluid buildup in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath, while right-sided failure leads to swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.

How does heart failure cause edema? In heart failure, the weakened heart muscle is unable to effectively pump blood out of the body, causing it to back up into the veins and capillaries. This increased pressure forces fluid to leak out into the surrounding tissues, leading to swelling or edema.

What are the main symptoms of congestive heart failure? The most common symptoms of CHF include shortness of breath, persistent coughing or wheezing, swelling in the legs and feet, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Patients may also experience chest pain, especially if the heart failure is due to a heart attack.

How is congestive heart failure diagnosed? Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose CHF, including physical exams, blood tests, electrocardiograms, and imaging scans like echocardiograms. These help determine the underlying cause and severity of the heart failure.

What are the treatment options for congestive heart failure? Treatment for CHF typically involves a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, medical devices or procedures. The goal is to manage symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and improve quality of life.

How can hospice care help patients with advanced heart failure? Hospice programs, like the one offered by Hospice of Huntington, can provide specialized care and support for patients with advanced heart failure. This can include symptom management, caregiver education, and coordination of end-of-life care.

What is the “Love Your Heart” program offered by Hospice of Huntington? The “Love Your Heart” program is a specialized program that helps hospice patients with congestive heart failure manage their symptoms, reduce hospitalizations, and improve their quality of life.

Congestive Heart Failure – Hospice of Huntington

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Congestive Heart FailureHannah3020-11-25T09:37:21-05:00

Hospice of Huntington has a special program for hospice patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Congestive Heart Failure occurs when your heart does not pump blood well enough to supply your body with enough oxygen and nutrients it needs.

Two types of heart failure are right side failure and left side failure. When the left side of your heart does not pump blood properly, blood backs up into your lungs causing pulmonary edema or a buildup of fluids in your lungs. This can cause severe shortness of breath that can have a gradual or sudden onset. Right side failure causes fluid to back up in the veins and capillaries in your body. This backup can cause pressure on the capillaries and fluid seeps out into the tissue causing swelling and even “weeping” of tissue, especially in the legs and feet. You can experience both types of heart failure at the same time.

Heart failure can also be caused by a heart attack that severely damages the heart muscle causing chest pain, weakness and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be managed in the comfort of your own home.

Hospice patients with CHF lived 81 days longer than patients with CHF who did not have hospice care according to a study sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and reported in the March 2007 edition of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Hospice of Huntington’s “Love Your Heart” program helps hospice patients:

• Avoid repeated ER visits and hospitalizations
• Reduce shortness of breath
• Manage increasing weakness and fatigue
• Reduce swelling in feet and ankles
• Reduce anxiety
• Reduce pain or angina
• Feel more confident in managing your symptoms

The “Love Your Heart” program provides hospice patients with:

• Weekly nurse visits
• Individualized advanced symptom management and monitoring
• Family education and caregiver support
• Help available day or night when you are in a crisis
• Emergency kits for quick symptom relief
• Complete hospice services

If a hospice patient experiences two or more of the following, now is the time to call Hospice of Huntington.

• Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
• Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
• Swelling of your abdomen (ascites)
• Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles and feet
• You have been optimally treated for heart disease and are not a candidate for a surgical procedure
• Need assistance with bathing and dressing and activities of daily living
• Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
• Chest pain, if your heart failure is caused by a heart attack
• An ejection fraction of equal to or less than 20%

Call us at (304) 529-4217 or (800) 788-5480 to request a free evaluation to determine if you are eligible for the “Love Your Heart” program with Hospice of Huntington.

Hospice of Huntington

P: 304.529.4217 Toll-Free: 800.788.5480

P.O. Box 464 | Huntington, WV 25709
1101 Sixth Avenue | Huntington, WV 25701

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Understanding Heart Failure and Edema

Edema is the clinical term for swelling caused by fluid retention. It can be triggered by any number of injuries, illnesses, or health conditions. But among the more serious conditions that can cause edema is heart failure.

This happens when the heart muscle weakens and can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It can also happen if the pressure is increased, forcing the fluid to back up into the legs or abdomen, or when a leaky heart valve causes fluid retention.

Proper treatment of heart failure, or whatever is causing your edema, should help relieve your swelling and other symptoms. In this article, we’ll look more at why heart failure causes edema, as well as other types of edemas, and current treatment options.

Although it sounds like the heart is failing to work at all, the term heart failure really means that the heart has grown weaker or stiffer. It still pumps blood, but it’s not enough to meet the body’s needs.

Heart failure can result from several issues, including:

• heart attack
• high blood pressure
• various types of heart disease
• valve disease

Diseases like diabetes and sleep apnea can also weaken the heart.

Since the heart isn’t able to adequately pump blood out through the arteries and bring it back through the veins, blood can begin to pool, especially in the legs and feet.

The veins require a certain amount of force from the heart to keep blood flowing up to the heart and lungs, where it receives oxygen and other nutrients. The pressure inside the veins is also higher due to higher pressures in those with heart failure.

Without medications or devices to improve the heart muscle’s strength, blood doesn’t circulate properly in someone with heart failure. Excess blood and other fluids in the capillaries can leak out into bodily tissues, causing edema.

Sometimes edema is the first sign of heart failure. Once heart failure is diagnosed, it becomes important to monitor increases in body weight that may result from increased fluid retention.

One 2021 review of studies suggests that increases in edema may also predict worsening heart failure.

Fluid buildup in the feet and legs, known as pedal edema, is a common early sign of heart failure. But there are other types of edema that may be the result of heart failure, including:

• Peripheral edema: swelling of the the hands or lower legs.
• Pitting edema: swelling in the feet, legs, or anywhere else. Pitting edema gets it name because it leaves a “pit” or dent in the skin on the affected area.
• Pulmonary edema: a buildup of fluid in the lungs.

Other causes of edema

The main potential causes of edema range from the temporary and harmless to more serious and chronic conditions that require ongoing medical care. Other than heart failure, some common causes of edema include:

• Sitting or lying down in one position for too long. Simply getting up and moving around usually alleviates swelling in the legs and feet.
• Menstruation and pregnancy. Both conditions can lead to temporary fluid retention and swollen feet and legs.
• Eating a lot of salty foods. Consuming excess sodium causes the body to retain more fluid to help keep sodium levels from getting too high. The additional sodium is excreted in urine.
• Venous insufficiency. Problems with the veins that keep them from moving blood along its path to the heart allow fluid to leak into nearby tissue.
• Kidney disease. When the kidneys don’t remove enough fluid and sodium, pressure inside blood vessels increases and edema follows. Kidney-related edema may affect the legs and/or the face.
• Lung disease. Serious respiratory conditions, like emphysema, can lead to lower leg edema when the right side of the heart starts to fail because the pressure in the heart and lungs becomes too great for proper circulation to continue.
• Liver disease (cirrhosis). With cirrhosis, blood cannot pass through the liver properly. This increases pressure in the vein that brings blood to the liver from the intestines and spleen, causing fluid to accumulate in the legs.

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There are three main types of heart failure. Each one reduces the heart’s ability to pump effectively.

Left-sided heart failure

The left side of the heart is responsible for pumping blood out of the heart to the rest of the body. Left-sided heart failure can develop when the left ventricle (lower left chamber of heart) can no longer pump enough blood out of the heart and into circulation.

It can also occur when the left ventricle becomes too stiff and can’t fill with enough blood in between heart beats. This keeps the heart from meeting the body’s requirements for oxygenated blood. Left-sided heart disease sometimes involves edema in the lungs.

Right-sided heart failure

When blood returns to the heart, it enters the right atrium (top right chamber) and then moves to the right ventricle (bottom chamber), which pushes blood into the lungs to receive oxygen.

When the right side of the heart weakens, blood coming in from the veins can start to back up. This is called right-sided heart failure, which usually results in edema in the lower extremities.

Congestive heart failure

The term congestive heart failure is often used interchangeably with heart failure. But it really just refers to a state of heart failure in which fluid buildup in the body is serious enough to require medical attention. In this instance, “congestion” is another word for fluid. This can result in both pulmonary edema and edema of the abdomen, lower legs, and feet.

Other symptoms of heart failure to know

While edema may be the most obvious external heart failure symptom, there are some other common symptoms that you should know about. This is especially true if you’re a heart attack survivor or otherwise at high risk for heart failure.

Other heart failure symptoms include:

• shortness of breath, especially when lying down or during exertion
• fatigue
• rapid or fluttering heartbeat
• nagging cough that may produce pink or blood-tinged phlegm
• lack of appetite
• difficulty paying attention
• increased need to urinate at night
• sudden weight gain
• chest pain, tightness or pressure

If you notice any of these symptoms, see a doctor soon. Sudden swelling in one leg could be a blood clot and should be treated as a medical emergency. Likewise, the onset of shortness of breath should be evaluated immediately since it can be a sign of a heart attack or other emergency.

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Treating edema usually means treating the underlying cause of the swelling. In the case of heart failure, that could involve the use of medications like:

• diuretics to reduce fluid levels in the body
• medications like ACE inhibitors and ARBs or ARNI to help the blood vessels relax, so circulation is a little easier
• beta blockers and ivabradine to reduce the burden on the heart
• mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs)
• SGLT2 inhibitors

In very serious cases, implantable pumps or defibrillators are needed to help the heart muscle keep up with the body’s demand for blood. And in the most severe cases of heart failure, a heart transplant may be necessary.

Treating the edema itself may include:

• compression stockings to help increase the pressure in your lower legs, which may help push blood up to the heart
• exercise to get the leg muscles affected by edema working harder and pumping blood back to the heart
• elevating your legs or other swollen part of the body above the heart to help keep blood returning to the central circulation.

Edema is a common symptom of heart failure, but it can also be caused by other conditions.

With heart failure, fluid builds up because the body’s circulatory system isn’t operating as strongly as it normally would. This is due to a weakening or stiffening of the heart muscle.

If you notice swelling, but know of no underlying medical reason for it, see a doctor soon. Even if the cause isn’t heart failure, you’ll want to know why the swelling has developed and how it can be treated or prevented in the future.

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causes, symptoms and treatments

Contents

• 1 Swelling of the legs in heart failure: symptoms, causes and treatment
  • 1.1 Heart failure: an explanation of the concept
  • 1.2 How are heart failure and swelling of the legs related?
  • 1.3 Swelling of the legs in heart failure: causes, symptoms and treatment
    • 1.3.1 What factors can lead to swelling of the legs in heart failure?
  • 1. 4 What symptoms accompany swelling of the legs in heart failure?
  • 1.5 Diagnosing swollen legs in heart failure
  • 1.6 Treatments for swollen legs in heart failure
  • 1.7 Medication for swollen legs in heart failure
  • 1.8 How can I change my lifestyle to reduce leg swelling in heart failure?
    • 1.8.1 Exercise and physical activity:
    • 1.8.2 Nutrition:
    • 1.8.3 Weight control:
    • 1.8.4 Stress avoidance:
    • 1.8.5 Take medication:
  • 1.9 Physical therapy for heart failure leg swelling
  • 1.10 Heart failure leg swelling diet 90 004
  • 1.10.1 Avoid excess sodium intake
  • 1.10.2 Increase protein intake
  • 1.10.3 Drink enough water
  • 1.10.4 Reduce fluid intake
  • 1.10.5 Eat regularly
  • 1.10.6 Control your weight
• 1.11 Operations and procedures for the treatment of swelling of the legs in heart failure
• 1.12 Q&A:
  • • 1. 12.0.1 What symptoms may indicate swelling of the legs in heart failure?
    • 1.12.0.2 What medicines can help with leg swelling?
    • 1.12.0.3 What methods can be applied independently to reduce swelling of the legs?
    • 1.12.0.4 How can leg edema be diagnosed in heart failure?
    • 1.12.0.5 What are the causes of leg swelling in heart failure?
    • 1.12.0.6 How often should I seek medical attention for swelling of the legs due to heart failure?
• 1.13 Related video:

Edema of the legs in heart failure is a symptom that indicates a violation of blood circulation in the body. Find out the causes and treatments for leg swelling in people with heart failure on our website.

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body. One of the most common symptoms of heart failure is leg swelling. They occur due to impaired blood circulation and accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the legs.

Swelling of the legs may be the first sign of heart failure. They appear as swelling of the outer and inner parts of the legs. In addition, there may be swelling in the ankles, feet, and toes. This disease can occur in people of any age: from youth to the older age category.

If you do not pay timely attention to the appeared edema, the development of dangerous consequences is possible. Therefore, it is important to know the causes of edema and methods of their treatment, which will help prevent serious complications. In this article, you will learn what factors can cause leg swelling in heart failure, as well as how to properly diagnose and treat this condition.

Heart failure: an explanation of the concept

Heart failure (HF) is a pathological condition that develops as a result of a malfunction of the heart. In the human body, a certain blood supply to organs and tissues is necessary, and this is achieved through the work of the heart muscle.

The heart beats rhythmically and pumps blood through all the arteries and veins, constantly supplying the organs with oxygen and nutrients. However, in the presence of heart failure, the heart cannot cope with its function. Hence the name: “insufficiency” – it lies in the fact that the final results of blood circulation do not satisfy the needs of the vital elements of the body.

There are many causes of heart failure, such as valvular disorders, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, radiation therapy, and hereditary heart disease.

How are heart failure and leg swelling related?

Heart failure is a serious heart disorder that causes an uncontrolled accumulation of fluid in body tissues, including the legs. That is why swelling of the legs is one of the most characteristic symptoms of heart failure.

When the heart is not working properly, the blood cannot circulate efficiently through the body. This leads to fluid retention in the tissues, which accumulates primarily in the lower extremities and causes edema. The formation of edema in the legs is the result of a reduced efficiency of the pumping function of the heart, which leads to a congestive state.

In heart failure, swelling of the legs can be very painful and greatly reduce the patient’s quality of life. To reduce swelling, it is necessary to treat heart failure itself by improving heart function and drainage function. This can be achieved through the use of diet, medication, physical activity, and other methods.

The fight against leg edema associated with heart failure is an important part of complex therapy and is highly effective together with conventional methods of treating heart failure.

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Swelling of the legs in heart failure: causes, symptoms and treatment

What factors can lead to swelling of the legs in heart failure?

Swelling in the legs can be one of the first signs of heart failure because the heart cannot supply enough blood to the body. Factors that can lead to swelling of the legs include:

• Poor circulation in the heart: The heart cannot contract effectively and pump blood, which leads to the accumulation of fluid in the tissues.
• Veins full of blood: in heart failure, blood can accumulate in the veins, resulting in swelling of the legs.
• Increased capillary pressure: in heart failure, the level of fluid in the blood vessels may be insufficient, which leads to increased pressure in the capillaries and edema.
• Problems with the lymphatic system: Some cases of swelling in the legs may be due to problems with the lymphatic system, which removes excess fluid from the tissues.

If swelling of the legs occurs, see a doctor to determine possible heart failure and treat accordingly.

What symptoms accompany swelling of the legs in heart failure?

Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump blood efficiently throughout the body. Swelling of the legs is one of the symptoms of heart failure, which manifests itself in the later stages of the disease.

The first sign of swelling of the legs is swelling of the lower extremities, which may be noticeable after waking up in the morning. In the future, increased fatigue, anxiety, shortness of breath and decreased physical activity will appear.

With prolonged heart failure, edema may spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, abdomen, face. In such cases, urgent medical attention is needed, as the patient’s condition may worsen to critical levels.

If you notice such symptoms, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor for a long time. Timely diagnosis and treatment of heart failure will avoid serious complications and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Diagnosis of swelling of the legs in heart failure

Edema of the legs is often one of the first signs of heart failure. In order to establish that edema is associated specifically with heart failure and determine its degree, various diagnostic methods are used.

1. Physical Exam – The doctor examines the legs and looks for signs of swelling, such as swelling in the legs, sock marks on the skin, dry skin, and ulcers.
2. Ultrasound examination – allows you to assess the functional state of the heart, determine the presence and degree of impaired blood flow and blood volume in the legs. This method is prescribed by doctors only if necessary, after evaluating the results of previous studies.
3. Blood tests – can help doctors determine the cause of swelling, such as determining the level of electrolytes in the blood. If the level of sodium in the blood is low, this may indicate the presence of heart failure.

Depending on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe additional tests to clarify the diagnosis and decide on treatment. Treatment of leg edema in heart failure should be carried out by a doctor and will depend on the severity of the disease and the presence of other concomitant diseases.

Treatments for swelling of the legs in heart failure

Swelling of the legs can be a sign of heart failure. The treatment of edema is aimed at improving the function of the heart and reducing the load on it. To start treatment, you need to contact a cardiologist to determine the exact cause of edema.

• Medicines that improve heart function. They help to improve the contractility of the heart, reduce the load and reduce swelling. They must be prescribed by a doctor.
• Treatment of concomitant diseases. If there are comorbidities such as hypertension or diabetes, these should also be treated.
• Restriction of fluid and salt intake. Limiting fluid and salt intake may help reduce the workload on the heart and reduce swelling.
• Compression therapy. Performing compression therapy with elastic bandages or socks may help reduce leg swelling.
• Diuretics. Diuretics may help remove fluid from the body and reduce swelling.

Treatment of leg edema in heart failure is a process that requires an individual approach and regular monitoring by a physician. Following the doctor’s recommendations will help reduce the risk of complications and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Drug treatment for leg swelling due to heart failure

Various drugs are used to treat leg swelling due to heart failure. In most cases, drug therapy is given in combination with other therapies such as diet, exercise, and compression therapy.

Drugs used to treat swelling in the legs help reduce the load on the heart muscle and improve blood circulation in the vessels. These include:

• Diuretics. These are drugs that increase the excretion of fluid from the body by increasing the volume of urine. Among them are furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide.
• Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE inhibitors. They help lower blood pressure, reduce stress on the heart and blood vessels, and improve blood circulation in the legs. These include captopril, enalapril and others.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers. These drugs help lower blood pressure, reduce the workload on the heart, and improve circulation in the legs. These include losartan, candesartan, and others.

The doctor prescribes the dosage and duration of taking medications based on the general condition of the patient and the diseases present in him.

How can I make lifestyle changes to reduce leg swelling in heart failure?

Exercise and physical activity:

Regular exercise is one way to reduce leg swelling. Simple exercises such as walking, swimming or cycling improve blood circulation, which leads to a reduction in swelling.

Nutrition:

Excessive fluid and salt intake should be avoided as this can aggravate leg swelling. It is recommended to increase the intake of protein and vitamins, as well as reduce the intake of fats and carbohydrates.

Weight control:

Being overweight can impair heart function and increase leg swelling. Therefore, weight control can help reduce swelling and improve heart health.

Stress avoidance:

Stress can worsen the condition of the heart, increase blood pressure and increase swelling in the legs. Avoid stressful situations and practice relaxing exercises like yoga or meditation.

Take your medicine:

If you have heart failure, take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor. It is also possible to use diuretics, which help remove excess fluid from the body, thereby reducing leg swelling.

Physical therapy for the treatment of leg swelling in heart failure

Leg swelling in heart failure can be effectively treated through physical therapy. It includes various exercises to strengthen the lower body and increase blood circulation.

The standard method of physical therapy is compression therapy, which involves wearing special graduated compression stockings. Stockings create pressure that helps blood and lymph flow better and reduces swelling.

Physical exercises are also widely used to strengthen the muscles and increase blood circulation in the legs. It can be both moderate walking and special exercises designed for specific muscle groups.

Individual approach is very important in physical therapy in the treatment of leg edema in heart failure. It is best to work with a professional physical therapist who can develop the best exercise plan and monitor your progress.

• Compression therapy
• Moderate walking
• Exercises to strengthen muscles and increase blood circulation in the legs

Diet for swollen legs due to heart failure

Avoid excessive sodium intake 9012 1

Sodium, or salt, can retain fluid in the body, which can lead to edema. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the amount of salt in the diet. Avoid ready meals, marinades, cold cuts and cheese.

Increase your protein intake

Proteins help maintain water balance in the body and prevent fluid retention in tissues. Include protein foods such as fish, chicken, seafood, eggs, and legumes in your diet.

Drink enough water

Controversial, but you need to drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of edema. Insufficient water intake can lead to fluid retention in the body. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Reduce fluid intake

If you have heart failure, it may be helpful to reduce your fluid intake. Do not reduce water, but stop drinking sugary drinks, strong tea, coffee and alcohol.

Eat regularly

Diet is important in heart failure. Eat regularly and eat less but more often. Avoid overeating, which can lead to swelling.

Watch your weight

Watch your weight. Avoid rapid weight loss or gain, which can lead to edema and aggravation.

Recommended foods for edema Foods to avoid

Operations and procedures for the treatment of swelling of the legs in heart failure

Swelling of the legs often occurs in heart failure, when the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently. Most cases of leg swelling can be treated conservatively, but some cases may require surgery.

One possible procedure is sclerotherapy, which involves injecting salt or a special drug into the affected vein to narrow its walls. It helps reduce swelling and improve blood circulation.

Endovenous laser treatment may also be an effective procedure in the treatment of leg edema due to heart failure. This method involves using laser light to close off the affected veins, resulting in less swelling and more efficient circulation.

If conservative methods fail, surgery may be required. One of the commonly used methods is to normalize blood flow in the legs. This includes creating new channels for blood flow in the legs.

Some types of edema may require the use of a stent. A stent is a metal or plastic mesh that is inserted into an affected vein to keep it from expanding and losing its shape.

• Conclusion: In the treatment of leg edema in heart failure, both conservative methods and surgical interventions can be used, including sclerotherapy, endovenous laser photocoagulation, normalization of blood flow in the legs and stenting.

Q&A:

What symptoms may indicate swelling of the legs in heart failure?

Swelling of the legs may be accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and tension in the legs, pain when walking, inability to put on ordinary shoes, swelling of the ankles and feet. It is also possible for swelling to appear on other parts of the body, for example, on the ankles, abdomen, lungs.

What medicines can help with leg swelling?

Diuretics may be given to treat swelling in the legs due to heart failure, which increases the excretion of excess water from the body, reducing swelling. Drugs that reduce the workload on the heart and increase its efficiency, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, may also be used.

What methods can be used independently to reduce leg swelling?

To reduce swelling of the legs, it is recommended to monitor the diet, limiting the intake of salt and liquid, control your weight, avoid prolonged stay in one position, sit or lie with your legs up, if this is not contraindicated, use compression stockings or stockings.

How can leg edema be diagnosed in heart failure?

For the diagnosis of leg edema in heart failure, research methods such as electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac ultrasound (ultrasound), chest x-ray, vascular dopplerography, cardiac catheterization are carried out. It is also necessary to conduct tests to determine the level of salt and fluid in the blood.

What are the causes of leg swelling in heart failure?

Heart problems can lead to poor circulation, which in turn causes swelling in the legs. Experiencing weakness of the heart, it cannot effectively pump blood from the lower extremities, while fluid begins to accumulate in the tissues. In addition, edema can be caused by impaired kidney function, hormonal disruptions, and taking certain medications.

How often should I seek medical attention for swelling of the legs due to heart failure?

At the first sign of swelling of the legs due to heart failure, you should consult a doctor for a profile examination and consultation. Further, the frequency of visits will be determined by a specialist individually, depending on the symptoms of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment.

Related videos:

Chronic heart failure | Publications of the clinic “Family Doctor”

Chronic heart failure is a fairly serious and even dangerous condition. Heart failure is always the result of some disease. Most often, heart failure is the result of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, hypertension, heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and diabetes mellitus.

As a result of damage, the heart muscle, as a rule, weakens and cannot satisfactorily perform its pumping function, as a result of which the supply of organs and tissues of the body with oxygen and nutrients is disrupted.

Heart failure can be different. Distinguish between systolic and diastolic heart failure.

Systolic heart failure develops when the heart muscle does not have enough strength to effectively push enough blood out of the heart and into the rest of the body.

Diastolic heart failure develops when, after pushing blood out of the heart, the heart muscle cannot fully relax and the ventricles do not fill with enough blood to supply the body adequately.

Symptoms and diagnostic methods

Heart failure is manifested by the following symptoms: shortness of breath at rest and during exercise, fatigue, weakness, swelling of the legs, palpitations.

In order to establish the presence and severity of heart failure, the doctor uses various diagnostic methods:

• electrocardiography;
• chest x-ray;
• echocardiography;
• 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring;
• stress echocardiography;
• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• multislice computed tomography of the heart vessels;
• radioisotope scintigraphy;
• laboratory research methods (general blood test, biochemical blood test, determination of brain natriuretic peptide – BNP).

The sooner you detect signs (symptoms) of heart failure and see a doctor, the sooner you will receive the necessary treatment.

Prevention and treatment

Various drugs are used to treat heart failure, the main ones are:

1. ACE inhibitors in patients with heart failure improve the functioning of the heart as a result of the expansion of blood vessels both bringing blood to the heart and carrying blood from the heart: in addition, they remove excess fluid and sodium from the body, restore the structure of the cardiovascular system.

2. Beta-blockers: the use of this group of drugs not only reduces the symptoms of heart failure, but also prolongs the life of patients.

3. Aldosterone receptor antagonists: high levels of aldosterone (a hormone produced in the body) leads to the progression of heart failure, increases scarring in the area of ​​damaged myocardium (after myocardial infarction). Therefore, taking drugs of this group is necessary to improve the prognosis.

4. Diuretics (diuretics): prevent fluid retention in the body, increase the excretion of salt and water, which leads to a decrease in shortness of breath and swelling.

5. Cardiac glycosides (digoxin): Decreases heart rate and stimulates the pumping function of the heart. The use of the drug is currently very limited, only in the presence of arrhythmia and in consultation with the doctor.

6. Vasodilators: used as an additional remedy, they relieve heart pain by dilating blood vessels, significantly reduce the load and facilitate the work of the heart.

Also used in the treatment of heart failure antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, statins.

For prevention and treatment, your role in helping your body is essential:

1. It is necessary to normalize body weight, this will lead to a decrease in the load on the heart.

2. Diet plays a significant role in the healing process. Fatty, starchy and sweet foods should be avoided.