Heart Failure

[fruitsalad]

Would you be treated for this, or does it come on suddenly, as in you may not know you have it?

[Buenchico]

See here:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Heart-failure/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[fruitsalad]

Thank you Buenchico, I wondered why George Michael wasn't being treated for this, as apparantly this is what he died from, but then maybe he was.

[237SJ]

They don`t really know that he suffered from heart failure although he did appear a bit bloated around the face. Heart failure was the verdict given by his manager who isn`t medically trained.

[Peter Pedant]

both acute and chronic

George M wrecked his health with drugs and so on
so you cant really tell

[237SJ]

I remember the days when we used to be taught to look out for the obvious signs of this (called congestive heart disease in those days) - swollen ankles and a cough. I guess modern medicines are better at controlling it these days so it is not such a common medical emergency

[Sqad]

"Heart Failure" is a common term meaning a lot to the layman but covering a multitude of diagnoses ans "sins". We ALL die of heart failure.

To the medical profession, it is far more complicated and can be divided up into many headings the main ones being Right sided heart failure ( Congestive Cardiac Failure as mentioned by 237SJ) and (Left sided heart failure) as indicated by Peter Pedant) and no answer is complete without the NHS website of Buenchico.

\\\Would you be treated for this,\\ almost certainly.

\\\\or does it come on suddenly,\\ Left sided heart failure comes on suddenly but right sided (congestive cardiac failure) comes on gradually.

So for the layman "Heart failure " means whatever you want it to mean....but to the professional it is something more specific.

Today the most commonest cause of heart failure is congestive cardiac failure, brought on by the explosion of obesity, alcohol and drug abuse, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension ( high blood pressure) not forgetting coronary artery disease.

[ummmm]

My uncle died of heart failure. The coroner basically said his heart just stopped beating as there was no other signs of death.