Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is unable to adequately pump blood throughout the body and/or prevent blood from backing up into the lungs. CHF is typically a process that occurs over time, as the underlying cause weakens the heart.

An estimated 5 million people in the U.S. are affected by CHF, and ~550,000 new cases are diagnosed every year (including 1% of everyone over age 65). 50% of all newly diagnosed patients suffering from CHF die within five years of their initial diagnosis.

Common Causes:
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is most often a symptom of another cardiovascular problem requiring treatment, and as such can be caused by a wide range of factors, such as:

• Coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
• Cardiomyopathy (diseased heart muscles).
• Hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Heart valve abnormalities.
• Heart arrhythmia.
• Congenital heart defects (birth defects).
• Toxic substances (usually alcohol, drug or environmental effect related).

Common Symptoms:
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients typically experience fatigue or weakness as their first CHF-related symptom, but as the condition worsens other symptoms typically follow, such as:

• Shortness of breath with or without physical activity.
• Orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying flat).
• Rapid or irregular pulse.
• Edema (swelling of legs, feet/ankles, abdomen, liver, spleen or lungs).
• Chronic dry and/or frothy cough (foamy or blood-tinged).
• Nocturia (increased night urination).
• Dark-colored urine.
• Oliguria (decreased urine output).
• Unexplained and/or unintended rapid weight gain.
• Distended or swollen neck veins.
• Loss of appetite or indigestion.
• Changes in behavior (restlessness, confusion, memory and/or attention span issues).

Common Treatments:
Depending on the underlying cause of an individual patient's Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), a wide range of treatments can be prescribed. Typically, they will include some of the following:

• Multiple medications (to strengthen heart muscles, reduce the workload on the heart, and directly treat the underlying causes).
• Surgery (from minor to open-heart procedures depending on severity of the underlying causes).
• Transplantations (in the most extreme cases).
• Careful monitoring, such as through the MedStar (CHF patients are often monitored carefully to watch for signs of impending complications, to ensure they are obeying doctor's instructions, and to adjust medication doses).
• Lifestyle adjustments (diet and activity adjustments are common in most CHF cases).

There is usually no cure for CHF, so this serious condition must be carefully managed. In most cases, patients who recieve and follow proper treatment can live relatively normal lives.

The MedStar can monitor blood pressure, weight, and blood oxygen levels -- and provide data reports on a daily basis. It is an ideal low-cost tool to monitor and help control CHF.