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TYPES OF CHF

There are different types of heart failure, and the most common type is called Left Heart Failure, which occurs when:

• The heart cannot contract normally because it has become enlarged or stretched, and weakened, so it pumps less blood out of the heart.
• Or, the heart cannot relax properly because the heart chambers are tight and stiff, which results in the heart not filling properly with blood, and not getting enough blood into the heart.

There is also Right Heart Failure, which is commonly caused by Left Heart Failure and Lung Disease.

It’s common to even have more than one type of heart failure at the same time – a “mixed” form of heart failure. While there are different kinds of CHF, all involve fluid backing up like a traffic jam, or congestion.

If the fluid backs up in your lungs, you will have trouble breathing. If it backs up in other parts of your body rather than returning to the heart, your legs and feet will swell and your hands and fingers may swell too. Extra fluid may even collect around your abdomen and lower back. The backup of fluid is what causes you to gain weight. Your heart will try to get the traffic moving again, but parts of the body may not get the oxygen they need. That’s why you may feel tired and weak.

There is also Right Heart Failure, which is commonly caused by Lung Disease, but also can be a complication of Left Heart Failure, or of Mitral Valve Disease.

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