What is Right-Sided Heart Failure?

Right-sided, or right ventricular, heart failure can be defined as a process, not a disease. We also know this condition as cor pulmonale. It usually occurs when the weakened or stiff left ventricle of the heart loses the ability to pump blood quickly to the rest of the body. As a result, the blood forced back through the lungs weakens the heart's right side and causes right-sided heart failure. This backward flow backs the blood up in the veins and causes swelling in the legs, GI tract, ankles, and liver. Right-sided heart failure can also be called cor pulmonale or pulmonary heart disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Right-Sided Heart Failure

Often the GS Hospital patients ask their doctors about the signs and symptoms of right-sided heart failure and how they can range from mild to severe. Their doctor can determine if any of the following signals or signs of heart failure are being generated by cor pulmonale:

• Awakening in the middle of the night with shortened breath
• Lack of oxygen or shortness of breath while exercising or when lying flat
• Wheezing
• Dizziness
• Sudden weight gain
• Increased urge to urinate
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Difficulty exercising
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fluid accumulation resulting in swelling of the ankles, feet, legs, and abdomen
• Nausea and lack of appetite

If you are experiencing right-sided heart failure symptoms, visit your nearest hospital immediately. Don't go for self-diagnoses; allow your doctor or a medical professional to decide if you are going through a life-threatening event.

• Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain, fainting, or a rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Coughing up pink or white phlegm while suffering from severe shortness of breath
• Severe weakness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Causes

Any problem with the left side of your heart always causes right-sided heart failure or heart attack. When the left ventricle fails to work properly, excess fluid pressure flows back through the lungs, damaging the right side of your heart. Left-sided heart failure is mainly caused by coronary artery disease, continuous high blood pressure, or a heart attack. Right-sided heart failure causes can include the following:

• Pulmonary edema
• Tobacco use
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure
• Cocaine use
• Heavy alcohol use
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pulmonic stenosis

In many other cases, the Best Cardiologist in Ghaziabad has seen that certain lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis or COPD can also cause right-sided heart failure, despite the left side of the heart working usually.

Risk Factors

Right-sided heart failure risk factors can include:

• Age
• Congenital heart defects
• Chronic diseases
• Viral infection
• Race
• Previous heart attack
• Left-to-right shunt
• Valvular heart disease
• Irregular heartbeats
• Left-sided heart failure
• Lung conditions
• Pericardial constriction
• Some chemotherapy and diabetes medications

Diagnosis

To determine if a patient has right-sided heart failure, Heart Specialists in Delhi NCR use advanced technology to diagnose, advise patients on the proper treatment, and monitor their condition effectively. Diagnostic procedures and technologies can include:

• Blood tests
• Cardiac CT Scan
• Chest X-ray
• Cardiac catheterization
• Coronary angiography
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Myocardial biopsy
• Pulmonary functions studies
• Stress testing

Prevention

We cannot prevent all risk factors related to right-sided heart failure, but we can lower the risks for diseases and conditions that cause or complicate cor pulmonale.

• Balance your blood sugar: If you are a diabetic patient, keep track of what you eat and check your blood sugar regularly. Talk to your doctor about the dosage of medications to control your spiking blood sugar.
• Be active: Maintain your daily exercise routine to improve circulation and decreases heart muscle stress.
• Maintain a healthy diet: Limit sugar, saturated fat, cholesterol, salt, and plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
• Get regular checkups: See your physician if you experience new or changing symptoms or side effects from medications.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Losing excess weight and maintaining it as a healthy weight puts less stress on your heart.
• Manage sleep apnea: If you have a sleep disorder or apnea, use a BIPAP/CPAP device every night for better sleep.
• Reduce stress: Stress can lead to irregular heartbeat affecting your heart health.
• Reduce alcohol intake: In some cases, you must stop drinking. If you can, then keep your alcohol intake low.
• Quit smoking: Smoking is harmful to health, reduces the level of oxygen in your blood, damages blood vessels and blood pressure, and increases your heart rate.
• Take your medications regularly: If you've been prescribed a medication by your doctor for congestive heart failure or a causative condition, be sure to take it regularly. 

Treatment and Recovery

Cor pulmonale treatment focuses on managing symptoms and treating its causes. A right-sided heart failure treatment plan may include medications, devices, surgery, and lifestyle changes. Depending on the seriousness of the condition, treatment can consist of the following:

1.   Medications

Medications are prescribed to improve cardiac function and treat symptoms like heart rate, high blood pressure, and fluid buildup to:

• Reduce fluid retention.  
• Reduce loss of potassium.
• Open narrowed blood vessels.
• Reduce blood pressure. 
• To slow down the rapid heart rhythm.
• Increase blood flow.
• Lower cholesterol.
• Reduce swelling.
• Reduce fluid by promoting urination.
• Prevent blood clots.

Your doctor may prescribe specific types of medications like:

• Pulmonary vasodilators—These medicines relax the blood vessels connected to your heart and lungs.
• Vasodilators—These medicines relax your blood vessels and control the chemicals from weakening your heart.
• Diuretics—These medicines help destroy sodium and extra fluid formed in your body.
• Digoxin—This medicine increases your heart's capacity to pump blood.
• Beta-blockers—These medicines slow your heartbeat.

2.   Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes improve your life quality and the right-sided heart failure symptoms. Thus, following a low-sodium, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet is essential. Gentle aerobic exercise is also recommended.

3.   Surgery and Other Procedures

A ventricular-assist device implant or a heart transplant may be required if medications are unproductive in managing right-sided heart failure or its unbearable symptoms.

• Ventricular assist device (VAD) surgery can be implanted to help the patient's weak heart pump more efficiently.
• Heart transplant surgery occurs only when all other right-sided heart failure treatments have failed. All the Top 10 Best Heart Surgery Hospitals in Uttar Pradesh performed this surgery to remove the damaged heart and replace it with a healthy heart from a deceased donor.

4.   Prognosis

The prognosis for right-sided heart failure differs depending on the condition's cause and the seriousness of its symptoms. While some will improve with treatment and lifestyle changes, others can be life-threatening; severe symptoms may require a heart transplant or implant of a ventricular assist device.

Complications

Complications of right-sided heart failure include:

• Heart attack: The lack of insufficient blood flow for an extended period damages the heart muscles permanently.
• Angina: Lack of blood flowing to the heart causes discomfort or pressure to the neck, chest, and jaw.
• Cardiac cachexia: Rapid weight loss of at least 7.5 percent of the average body weight can be life-threatening.
• Heart valve issues: Disrupted blood flowing from the right direction throughout can increase pressure on the heart.
• Atrial fibrillation: This irregular heartbeat can increase the risk of blood clots and stroke.
• Liver damage: Liver function becomes difficult when fluid forced back from the heart puts pressure on it.
• Kidney damage: Right-sided heart failure often leads to decreased kidney function. Kidney failure requiring dialysis treatment can occur if the kidneys receive less blood.

At GS Hospital, one of the Best Hospital in Meerut, you will get timely appointments and individual attention to all your concerns. This friendly atmosphere offers a multidisciplinary team of specialists and cutting-edge treatments. In every way, we work to display the highest excellent patient care to those who trust us with their health.

GS Hospital is known for its state-of-the-art and foremost care for patients with heart disease and the proper diagnosis, management, and treatment of right-sided heart failure.