Congestive heart disease is a physical disorder in which the heart pumps weakly because of which the blood backs up into the lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract and extremities. Congestive heart disease is also referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac failure or heart failure. Congestive heart disease sometimes develops suddenly. For dealing with cardiac emergencies effectively, one should enroll for CPR Overland Park Kansas classes in which students will get to learn about the life-saving resuscitation techniques which comprise of chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper application of the techniques can restore the life of a victim involved in the middle of cardiac emergencies.
You should always select an accredited training center for acquiring training in the techniques such as the AHA accredited CPR Kansas City where you can expect to receive training in the hands of certified instructors. At the end of the training classes, a student will be eligible for a certification after successfully passing a skills test and a written exam.
Congestive heart disease is more common among people over the age of 74 years which is also considered to be the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens.
Causes of Congestive Heart Disease:
· Heart muscle stiffness caused by a blocked heart valve
· High levels of thyroid hormones
· High blood pressure, also called hypertension
· Heart muscle weakness due to viral infections, the weakness may also be caused by toxins such as alcohol abuse
· Heart muscle weakness by heart valve disease which involves large amounts of blood leakage
· Weakening of muscles of the heart due to coronary artery disease which may lead to a heart attack
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Disease:
The symptoms depend on which side of the heart is affected as either side of the muscle may weaken and cause congestive heart disease:
· asthma that can be attributed to the heart
· blood pooling in the body's overall circulation
· blood pooling in the liver's circulation
· enlargement of the heart
· shortness of breath
· skin color that appears bluish or dusky
· swelling of the body, especially the extremities
Risk Factors of CHD:
High Blood Pressure- This is the major risk factor for congestive heart disease. Men and women with uncontrolled high blood pressure are twice and thrice as likely as those with normal blood pressure to suffer congestive heart disease.
High Cholesterol- This is another risk factor for congestive heart disease, particularly when HDL levels are low.
Diabetes- Both type 1 and type 2 are risk factors.
Heart Attacks- This is the second highest risk factor which is especially true for those who have had heart attacks that resulted in damage to the heart muscle, and scarring of the muscle tissue.
Obesity- The risks of congestive heart disease increases for men and women who are unnecessarily overweight.
Smoking- Smoking not only affects the lungs, but also increases the heart’s workload which is a risk of congestive heart disease that anyone can eliminate.
No Physical Activity- Most people lead a sedentary lifestyle these days with little exercise which increases the risk for congestive heart disease, especially with increase in age. Cardiovascular exercise is important for the heart to remain strong and to be able to function properly. Include some form of exercise in your daily routine which can range from swimming, cycling to running and walking.
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