How do we define heart failure? Am I correct to say that it does not refer to an absolute state but more to the degree of inefficiency of the heart in performing its function? Is it true that when a person has heart failure, it doesn't mean that his/her heart is going to stop beating soon, and that death is imminent?
A cousin of mine has had chronic atrial fibrillation since 3 months ago.
Prolonged standing
Long airplane flights or automobile rides
Menstrual periods (for some women)
Pregnancy -- excessive swelling may be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious condition sometimes called toxemia, which includes high blood pressure and swelling
Being overweight
Increased age
Injury or trauma to your ankle or foot
Swollen legs may be a sign of heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure. In these conditions, there is too much fluid in the body.
I am now on Flecainide and Diltiazem and have been AFib free for over 2 months. Have been on Eliquis for a couple of years now. My question is was this "acute" heart failure or once you have it do you always have it? In other words was it just because of the AFib episode or will I have heart failure the rest of my life? This is so scary. Will be seeing my EP July 2, 2019.
The good news is, CHF is treatable, with drug therapy, and the lasix is a good place to start. Then Coreg, and perhaps diltiazem, or some other BP med to keep your BP in check.
If you smoke, quit. If you drink alcohol, quit.....and if you have any extra weight, lose it. If you do the medication and all of the above, you should do very well.
I hope the best for you, and that I've answered your questions.
It decreases or slows conduction through the AV node, and reduces the contractility of the heart, so it could be inappropriate in cases of heart failure. I believe that Diltiazem works on the reentrant type of SVT called AVNRT. To me that another way of saying that it does not work on accessory path SVT's, like atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT).
Bear in mind that I am JUST a patient Dx'd w/and Tx'd for Atrial fibrillation.
Diltiazem is scripted to slow heart rate. How soon in the morning after waking were you taking your heart rate? 60 bpm is a normal heart rate during sleep and shortly thereafter wouldn't be of any particular concern.
Were you using a blood pressure monitor to check your heart rate? How was your blood pressure? Did you take any notice of the pulse pressure?
I can suggest a few things, but much depends on the nature of the congestive heart failure (CHF) and any underlying cause, when it began and what part of the heart is damaged or affected. Accurate diagnosis is crucial to the type of treatment and prognosis offered. An accurate diagnosis is established through chest X-rays, ECG, echocardiography,and other tests (such as a heartworm antigen test). Do you know if your vet has undertaken this process - and if yes, what the results were?
meaning the supply of blood/oxygen is probably less than the demand and the heart (left ventricle) will enlarge in an attempt to meet the demand and eventually contractions will become even weaker and there will be congested heart failure (blood backs up into the lungs causing congestion (edema)).
All of the heart is working, but there may be segments of the heart wall that has impaired heart cells and contractions are weaker than normal.
I have suffered with taking diltiazem(180 mg ER) AND metoprolol (50 mg ER) for atril fibrillation for the past two and a half years. The side effects have been debilitating.. Both drugs have the same side effects and together and one or the other or both create what I can only describe as chaotic turbulence in my chest and pain in my left arm when the second drug kicks in.. My cardiolgist now wants me to add a blood thinner (xarelto) to my meds menu.
Like noheart4me said, there is no simple answer and everyone is different. Heart failure can be acute or chronic. My Dad, who is now 84, was diagnosed with heart failure about 3 years ago. He had heart surgery in July 2008 and today is doing well heart-wise and is able to walk and even go dancing.
How is your Mom's doctor? Does he/she listen well to your questions and concerns and explain things so you both of you understand? If not, my advice would be to get a new doctor.
I have been taking metoprolol and diltiazem for sixteen months and initially the medications brought the SVTs under control. Fourteen months ago I started coughing blood and experiencing chest congestion. This took my attention off any heart issues and sent me on a long search for the cause of the bleeding. After many tests and visits with various specialists I never did get the answer. The bleeding resolved itself after 10 months (last October) and has not reappeared.
I had an episode of afib and was in the hospital is Sept. They took me off the beta blocker and put me on diltiazem. It didn't control my heart rate like the beta blocker. My resting heart rate went from upper 60s to the low 80s. After a few days without my beta blocker, I ended up in the ER, in sinus tachycardia with a rate of about 120. Long story short, it did not do a good job of keeping my heart rate down.
There is usually a history of excessive alcohol intake. Symptoms of heart failure are most common and include shortness of breath with activity or after lying down for a while, swelling of feet and ankles, irregular or rapid pulse, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite and even cough. These develop slowly over time. Treatment for alcoholic cardiomyopathy is stopping alcohol intake and treating the heart failure present.
I would definately go on line and google out diltiazem and missed heart beats and the same w. alcohol use w. the drug but just be sure it is either a doc or a pharmaceutical co. that offers you the info not some random person or study...if you have A Fib now is not the time to get creative..........................
Since late April it is averaging around 70. My concern is that taking both Amlodipine and a beta blocker may reduce my heart rate to an unacceptably low level. Do you consider the adding of a beta blocker to be the best course or, instead, should I try 1) increasing the Amlodipine to 10mg daily and/or 2) adding a duretic.
He prescribed Zarelto, Diltiazem and Amodarone. I asked that the gastro dr and cardio doctor consult and supposedly they did....but I don't feel real confident since they are in opposing hospitals. My husband and I are not real keen on these added drugs when the real problem is the harsh side effects from the Incivek. Do any of you have any insight into this. The cardio guy wants to see him in FOUR weeks....hell that is a long time to take extra medicines that might not be needed..
In December last year my wife was in hospital receiving surgery for a cancer (VIN) and while there her heart rate fell through the floor. An echocardiogram was done and showed an EF of 30-35%. In March this year another echo had an EF of 50% (marked increase) however the third one done last week came in at 40% which shows a decline again. The reason why escapes us.
My wife (Sally) is on Dilatrend and Adacand.
I was on tiazac 360mg for a couple of years for high blood pressure.I started having palpitations, skipped beats. The longer I was on it the worse it got. It finally got to where I was having some beats so strong and violent.I told my cardiologist and asked to change medication or a lower dose.He told me to go back to my family doctor who prescribed it originally. As it was 6 weeks to see him, I decided to stop the tiazac. After a few days the symptoms went away.
At any rate, my cardiologist prescribed one daily Diltiazem CD 120mg Caps. What seems strange to me is that Diltiazem is for angina and high blood pressure, but is only an OFF LABEL use for arrhythmias. Hence, I have noticed no change in my PVCs (perhaps even a little worse for these first 25 days on Diltiazem, and especially heavy PVCs when I first try to go to sleep at night), nor has my blood pressure been lowered.
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