Systolic heart failure is a particular kind of heart failure that affects the heart’s left ventricle. The bottom chambers of the heart are known as the left and right ventricles.
It is characterized by a weak heart, and a left ventricle cannot contract (squeeze) appropriately as the heart beats. Less blood is circulating throughout the body due to this weakness.
You may encounter symptoms and difficulties if your heart cannot adequately pump oxygen-rich blood throughout your body.
Heart failure due to reduced ejection fraction
Heart failure with low ejection fraction is another name for systolic heart failure.
The amount of blood the left ventricle expels with each heartbeat is known as the ejection fraction. A healthy, typical ejection fraction ranges from 55% to 65%. It can be a sign of a cardiac issue if it is higher or lower.
The ejection fraction is typically lower than 50% in patients with this heart failure.
Causes of systolic heart failure
Another cardiovascular issue that damages the heart muscle is t what leads to this heart failure. For instance;
- Aortic stenosis is a constriction of the heart’s main outflow vessel’s aortic valve (the aorta)
- Heart rhythm disorder is known as
- Any disorder affecting the heart muscle is known as
- Narrowing the arteries that supply blood to the heart is known as coronary artery disease.
- A heart attack might happen when the heart doesn’t receive enough blood.
- Hypertension, or high blood pressure, results from blood pushing against arteries.
- When a heart valve doesn’t seal tightly, enabling blood to flow backward in the heart, this condition is known as mitral regurgitation.
- Myocarditis, or heart muscle inflammation.
Symptoms of systolic heart failure
The characteristic symptom of systolic cardiac failure is dyspnea or shortness of breath.
Only when exercising may someone with early systolic heart failure experience shortness of breath. However, a person with severe systolic heart failure may experience breathing difficulties even when resting or walking across the room.
Other symptoms of this type of heart failure include;
- Chest pain
- Confusion or oblivion
- Dizziness
- Weakness or weariness
- Gasping or coughing often, occasionally generating pink-colored foam or phlegm
- Rapid or irregular pulse
- Nausea or an absence of appetite
- Requiring frequent morning urination
- Unexpected, sudden weight increase
- Belly, legs, ankles, and foot swelling
Blood becomes so blocked up that it pushes fluid through the capillary walls as heart failure symptoms worsen (tiny blood vessels). The liquid then accumulates in other body regions. Swelling may result from this throughout the body in the;
- Belly
- Ankles
- Feet
- Legs
- Back
- Groin
Systolic VS diastolic heart failure
Left ventricular dysfunction can result from systolic or diastolic heart failure. It is characterized by weak heart muscle and abnormal ventricular contraction. The heart muscle is rigid in diastolic heart failure, which usually makes it impossible for the left ventricle to relax.
Treatment of systolic heart failure
Your doctor will recommend therapies if you have systolic heart failure to address the underlying causes, ease your symptoms, and enhance your general health. Combinations of therapy are frequently used in the treatment and may include;
- Alterations in the way of life
- Drugs for the treatment of this heart failure
- Drugs that reduce symptoms
- Surgery
Lifestyle modification
If this heart failure is not successfully managed, it progresses over time and becomes more severe. Fortunately, you can take steps to stop systolic heart failure. Your physician might suggest any or all of the following;
- Skip the alcohol.
- Consume a heart-healthy diet with little sodium.
- Regular exercise
- Get lots of sleep.
- The need to lose weight.
- Control your blood pressure and sugar levels (if you have diabetes).
- Give up smoking.
- Recognize any subtle indications your body may give you, such as edema or weight increase.
Medications
Your doctor may suggest drugs based on the degree of this heart failure and its underlying cause. The medications for the treatment of this heart failure are;
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors relax the blood arteries, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) lower blood pressure.
- Beta-blockers lower the speed and force of the heartbeat.
- Drugs that block aldosterone aid in the body’s salt and water release.
- The blood vessels are relaxed, and the body’s extra fluid is reduced by angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), which make it simpler for your heart to pump blood.
Many painful systolic heart failure symptoms can restrict the number of activities you can do. Your doctor can recommend medications that treat the symptoms and signs of this heart failure to make you feel better. Some of these choices consist of;
- Diuretics
- Vasodilators
- Digoxin
- Anti-arrhythmic
Surgeries for systolic heart failure
Surgery may be an effective treatment for this type of heart failure that has progressed. Your doctor may propose surgery based on your specific symptoms and the underlying cause of your problem. The following surgical options:
- Coronary bypass surgery
- Pacemaker
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
- A heart transplantation
Prevention of systolic heart failure:
Maintaining good health can lower your risk of developing heart failure;
- Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet.
- Regular exercise
- Take time to rest.
- Limit or avoid unhealthy habits and substances, including alcohol, illegal drugs, smoking, and salty or fatty foods.
- Keep your weight at a healthy level.
- Be less stressed.
Systolic congestive heart failure:
When the cardiac output is not meeting the body’s needs, congestive heart failure develops.
Congestive heart failure is the most common clinical manifestation in many disease states. Therefore, this can happen for several other reasons.
There are several causes of congestive heart failure, including;
- Malfunction of the systole (reduced ejection fraction)
- Diastolic impairment (relaxation or filling abnormality)
- Heart valve disease
- Failing the right heart
- Arrhythmia
- Congestive heart failure with high output (i.e., severe anemia, arteriovenous malformations)
Every year, congestive heart failure affects about 6 million Americans, making it one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization.
Stages of systolic congestive heart failure:
Heart failure is divided into four stages according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification;
- Stage A: Heart failure patients at risk who have not yet seen structural heart abnormalities (i.e., those with diabetes, those with the coronary disease without prior infarct)
- Stage B: Patients in Stage B exhibit structural heart disease (i.e., lower ejection fraction, left ventricular hypertrophy, chamber enlargement) but do not yet have heart failure symptoms.
- Stage C: Patients who have experienced clinical cardiac failure are in stage C.
- Stage D: Patients needing extensive intervention due to refractory heart failure (i.e., biventricular pacemakers, left ventricular assist device, transplantation)
Note: There is no going back to earlier phases; the ACC/AHA classification differs significantly from the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class. Heart failure has reached stage C once symptoms appear, and stage B can never be reclaimed.
References:
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/systolic-heart-failure
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23276-systolic-heart-failure
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317848
- https://www.healio.com/cardiology/learn-the-heart/cardiology-review/topic-reviews/systolic-congestive-heart-failure
