Pathophysiology of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Congestive heart failure, or heart failure, is a condition in which the heart is unable to adequately pump blood throughout the body and/or unable to prevent blood from "backing up" into the lungs. In most cases, heart failure is a process that occurs over time, when an underlying condition damages the heart or makes it work too hard, weakening the organ. Heart failure is characterized by shortness of breath (dyspnea) and abnormal fluid retention, which usually results in swelling (edema) in the feet and legs. Pathophysiology of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Heart failure occurs, the body undergoes some adaptation, both in heart and systemically. If the stroke volume of both ventricles is reduced, because of pressure contractility, or afterload are greatly increased, the volume and pressure at the end of diastolic heart in two space will increase. This will increase the end diastolic myocardial fiber length, causing systolic time becomes shorte...