Congestive Heart failure means inability of heart to pumping enough blood needed by your body. So congestive heart leads to backing up of blood behind your heart. This is actually the diminished ventrical capacity at any end-diastolic volume and pressure. As a result, tissues, legs and lungs begin to accumulating fluids.
Causes of congestive heart failures
Congestive Heart Failures can be a result of either the failure of the heart’s loss of strength to forward pumping following systolic dysfunction (heart muscles’ weakness) or because your heart can not relax. Extraordinary demand for blood by the body some times causes heart failure.
Symptoms
The earliest symptoms are fatigue and swelling of your legs, ankles etc. Weakness to walk or exercise and frequent urination and sleeplessness are characteristic of the disease. Breaths may become shorter, loss of appetite and anxiousness may all show up warning you.
Congestive Heart Failure and Altitude
People recovering from heart disease are increasingly advised against venturing into high altitudes. For some patients as little as 3500 ft can prove difficult to sustain for long. As you go higher oxygen level dips and heart patients start choking for breath faster than anyone else. This further strains heart and giddiness and nausea, vomiting can result. Medically, though it is not proven that altitude has a connection to heart failures, especially those asymptomatic of cardiomyopathy need not worry. Logically it is the patients’ well being that is in concern.
However there are certain standard tests you can do at home. These will tell you if you can really go to altitudes. Walk about 100 yards on a plain and climb a dozen steps at a stretch in your normal speed. Gasping and increased heart beat means you should not perhaps go to altitudes.
Traveling to high altitudes or going on air may have the same effect on you. But if you are just flying a short flight you need not worry. But you are more prone to having altitude sickness than others.
Advice to congestive heart patients
Unless you are living in high altitude places, you should avoid it. Traveling without your regular medicines or for patients with pacemaker, without ECG are not exactly advisable. You can carry a list of your medicines with you.
Medicines, diet and vitamins
Digitalis, traded as ‘digoxin’ or ‘ Lanoxin’ is useful for its effects on the conducting system and inotropic effects. Congestive heart patients need to avoid salt intake as it can increase dehydration. Vitamin K is advised for you.