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Congestive Heart Failure Topic Guide

Congestive Heart Failure Congestive Heart Failure:

Congestive heart failure, or CHF, is a condition in which a person's heart is failing and it can't pump enough blood and oxygen to the body's tissues. Sometimes people with CHF don't know they have it. Early signs and symptoms symptoms are cough, shortness of breath, and having problems breathing; especially when lying down. And, if you have breathing problems like asthma, COPD, or emphysema and you think your condition is worsening. There are four stages of CHF. There's no cure for CHF, but treatments include drug therapy, diet, and lifestyle changes to relive symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Life expectancy depends on existing medical problems, age, and overall health.

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Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart that can be caused by a variety of other diseases, conditions, medications, and heredity. Cardiomyopathy causes can be categorized in several ways. One classification system is primary and secondary cardiomyopathy, another is extrinsic or intrinsic. The most common symptoms of cardiomyopathy are

Treatment is generally directed toward the underlying cause of the disease. Prognosis can be very good, or in some cases very poor with heart transplant as the only option.

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Congestive Heart Failure Topic Guide - Medications and Vitamins

Medications:

nebivolol Nebivolol

Nebivolol is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins)...learn more »

eplerenone Eplerenone

Eplerenone blocks the actions of the hormone aldosterone in the body. Aldosterone is important for the regulation of blood pressure...learn more »

olmesartan Olmesartan

Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Olmesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow...learn more »

telmisartan Telmisartan

Telmisartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Telmisartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow......learn more »

candesartan Candesartan

Candesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Candesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow./...learn more »

eprosartan Eprosartan

Eprosartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Eprosartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow...learn more »

irbesartan Irbesartan

Irbesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Irbesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow...learn more »

valsartan Valsartan

Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Valsartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow...learn more »

carvedilol Carvedilol

Carvedilol is a beta-blocker. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins)...learn more »

losartan Losartan

Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Losartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow...learn more »

hydrochlorothiazide and enalapril Hydrochlorothiazide And Enalapril

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention...learn more »

torsemide Torsemide

Torsemide is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt, allowing the salt to instead be passed in your urine...learn more »

lisinopril Lisinopril

Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »

benazepril Benazepril

Benazepril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »

ramipril Ramipril

Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »

bisoprolol Bisoprolol

Bisoprolol is a beta-blocker that affects the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins)...learn more »

phenylephrine Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose)...learn more »

amlodipine Amlodipine

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that dilates (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow...learn more »

triamterene Triamterene

Triamterene is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting to...learn more »

spironolactone Spironolactone

Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting...learn more »

quinapril Quinapril

Quinapril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »

norepinephrine Norepinephrine

Norepinephrine is similar to adrenaline. It works by constricting (narrowing) the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar) leve...learn more »

nitroglycerin (oral/sublingual) Nitroglycerin (oral/sublingual)

Nitroglycerin is a nitrate that dilates (widens) blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow through them and easier for the heart to pump...learn more »

milrinone Milrinone

Milrinone is a vasodilator that works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels to help them dilate (widen). This lowers blood pressure and allows blood...learn more »

metolazone Metolazone

Metolazone is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention...learn more »

isosorbide mononitrate Isosorbide Mononitrate

Isosorbide mononitrate is a nitrate that dilates (widens) blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow through them and easier for the heart to pump......learn more »

isosorbide dinitrate Isosorbide Dinitrate

Isosorbide dinitrate is a nitrate that dilates (widens) blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow through them and easier for the heart to pump...learn more »

hydrochlorothiazide Hydrochlorothiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention...learn more »

fosinopril Fosinopril

Fosinopril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »

dobutamine Dobutamine

Dobutamine stimulates heart muscle and improves blood flow by helping the heart pump better...learn more »

digoxin (oral) Digoxin (oral)

Digoxin is derived from the leaves of a digitalis plant. Digoxin helps make the heart beat stronger and with a more regular rhythm...learn more »

metoprolol Metoprolol

Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that affects the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins)...learn more »

hydralazine Hydralazine

Hydralazine is a vasodilator that works by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessels to help them dilate (widen). This lowers blood pressure and allows blo...learn more »

furosemide Furosemide

Furosemide is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt. This allows the salt to instead be passed in your urine......learn more »

nifedipine Nifedipine

Nifedipine is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It works by relaxing the muscles of your heart and blood vessels...learn more »

verapamil (oral) Verapamil (oral)

Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles of your heart and blood vessels...learn more »

diltiazem Diltiazem

Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles of your heart and blood vessels...learn more »

propranolol Propranolol

Propranolol is a beta-blocker. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins)...learn more »

enalapril Enalapril

Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »

captopril Captopril

Captopril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »

atenolol Atenolol

Atenolol is a beta-blocker that affects the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins)...learn more »