OverviewWhat is right-sided heart failure?Right-sided heart failure is one type of heart failure. Right-sided heart failure is also called right ventricular (RV) heart failure or right heart failure. Show
The right side of your heart pumps “used” blood from your body back to your lungs, where it refills with oxygen. Right-sided heart failure means your heart’s right ventricle is too weak to pump enough blood to the lungs. As a result:
What is left-sided heart failure?The left side of your heart pumps fresh blood to the rest of your body through your circulatory system. The left ventricle is larger and stronger than the right because it has to pump blood through your whole body. When people have left-sided heart failure, their heart's left side has to work harder to pump the same amount of blood. Left-sided heart failure is the most common cause of right-sided heart failure. How common is right-sided heart failure?More than 6 million Americans have heart failure. Each year, more than 900,000 people receive a heart failure diagnosis. Heart failure is rare in people younger than 50. With age, it becomes increasingly common. Studies have shown that around 2% of the population younger than 54 years old have heart failure. The number increases to around 8% — about 1 in 12 — for people over 75. Symptoms and CausesWhat causes right-sided heart failure?Most right-sided heart failure occurs because of left-sided heart failure. The entire heart gradually weakens. Often, left-sided heart failure results from another heart condition, such as:
Sometimes, right-sided heart failure can be caused by:
How does left-sided heart failure cause right-sided heart failure?People with advanced left-sided heart failure often end up with right-sided heart failure, too. When the left ventricle stops working efficiently:
What are the symptoms of right-sided heart failure?The main sign of right-sided heart failure is fluid buildup. This buildup leads to swelling (edema) in your:
Other signs include:
Where you accumulate fluid depends on how much extra fluid and your position. If you’re standing, fluid typically builds up in your legs and feet. If you’re lying down, it may build up in your lower back. And if you have a lot of excess fluid, it may even build up in your belly. Fluid build up in your liver or stomach may cause:
Once right-sided heart failure becomes advanced, you can also lose weight and muscle mass. Healthcare providers call these effects cardiac cachexia. Diagnosis and TestsHow is right-sided heart failure diagnosed?To diagnose heart failure, your healthcare provider will:
What tests will I need to diagnose right-sided heart failure?Your healthcare provider will test your heart function using:
To confirm a diagnosis of heart failure or rule out other conditions causing your symptoms, you may need:
Will I need a heart biopsy?Providers rarely need to do heart biopsies to diagnose heart failure. Management and TreatmentHow is right-sided heart failure treated?Treatment is directed at the cause of your heart failure, and not all causes of right-sided heart failure are curable. But you can treat heart failure and improve your symptoms. Often, a combination of lifestyle changes, medications and heart devices can help you manage heart failure and live an active life. What lifestyle changes can help treat right heart failure?Lifestyle changes can help improve your symptoms and slow the progress of the disease. Many people with mild heart failure enhance their quality of life by taking steps to:
Avoid or limit:
Stay on top of your health:
How can cardiac rehab help treat heart failure?Cardiac rehabilitation, or rehab, is a program supervised by health professionals. It can help slow the progression of heart failure. Cardiac rehab usually includes:
What medications treat right heart failure?Your provider will determine the right medication or combination of medications that will help you feel your best. These may include:
Your provider may also prescribe:
What devices treat right-sided heart failure?For severe heart failure, your provider may recommend:
Will I need surgery for heart failure?If nonsurgical methods aren’t working, your provider may talk to you about surgery for heart failure. There’s no procedure specifically for heart failure. But sometimes providers identify a problem that surgery can correct. For example, surgery can repair a problem with your heart valve or coronary artery. Heart failure surgery options may include:
PreventionHow can I prevent right-sided heart failure?You may not always be able to prevent heart failure. But you can sometimes treat conditions that cause heart failure. If you treat these conditions early, you may be able to stop heart failure before it starts:
Outlook / PrognosisWhat’s the outlook for people with right-sided heart failure?For many people, the right combination of therapies and lifestyle changes can slow or stop the disease and improve symptoms. They can lead full, active lives. About 1 in 10 American adults who live with heart failure have advanced heart failure. That means treatments aren’t working, and symptoms are getting worse. You may feel symptoms, such as shortness of breath, even when you’re sitting. If you have advanced heart failure, talk with your care team about important care decisions and next steps. Living WithHow do I take care of myself if I have right-sided heart failure?The most important thing is to make healthy lifestyle habits part of your daily routine. The more you make healthy living part of your new lifestyle, the better you’ll feel. Try to:
When should I see a healthcare provider about right heart failure?If you have chest pains or suspect you may be having a heart attack, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Get in touch with your healthcare provider if you experience:
What else should I ask my provider?If you have right-sided heart failure, ask your provider:
A note from Cleveland Clinic Right-sided heart failure means the right side of the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently. Fluid builds up in tissues, causing swelling. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms so the disease doesn’t worsen. Healthy lifestyle habits, along with cardiac rehab, improve symptoms for many people. Other treatment options include cardiac devices and surgery. If you have shortness of breath, swelling or chest discomfort, talk to your healthcare provider. Is a term that signifies right sided heart failure secondary to pulmonary hypertension quizlet?Cor pulmonale is right-sided heart failure secondary to pulmonary hypertension. Hypertrophy of the nailbeds due to chronic hypoxemia is called: A) hemoptysis.
Which pulmonary function test result is consistent with a diagnosis of asthma group of answer choices?Spirometry. This is the recommended test to confirm asthma. During this test, you breathe into a mouthpiece that's connected to a device, called a spirometer, or to a laptop. It measures the amount of air you're able to breathe in and out and its rate of flow.
What is the most common cause of chronic cough in a client who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day?What causes chronic bronchitis? The cause of chronic bronchitis is usually long-term exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways. In the United States, cigarette smoke is the main cause. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause chronic bronchitis, especially if you inhale them.
Which of the following conditions will cause ventilation perfusion V Q mismatch?A V/Q mismatch happens when part of your lung receives oxygen without blood flow or blood flow without oxygen. This happens if you have an obstructed airway, such as when you're choking, or if you have an obstructed blood vessel, such as a blood clot in your lung.
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