Left vs. Right Heart Failure

Signs & symptoms of left sided heart failure

-Dyspnea -Orthopnea -Pulmonary congestion -Tachycardia -Cool, pale skin -Restlessness

Signs & symptoms of right sided heart failure

-Jugular vein distention (distension, as we talked about in class means outward expansion) -Hepatomegaly (the condition of having an enlarged liver) -Patient gains weight and develops peripheral edema (rising capillary pressure forces excess fluid from the capillaries into the interstitial space)

Path of blood flow through the normal heart

-Right atrium (tricuspid valve) -Right ventricle (pulmonic valve --> pulmonary artery) -Lungs (pulmonary vein) -Left atrium (mitral valve) -Left ventricle (aortic valve -->aorta) -The rest of the body

Right sided heart failure

A reduction in the blood output from the right ventricle. The pressure in the right atrium may be increased depending on the return of blood from the rest of the body

Left sided heart failure

A reduction in the output from the left ventricle. The pressure in the left atrium increases as the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs is backed up

In heart failure, cardiac output is reduced due to __________________.

1. Sufficient blood does not return to the heart and fill the ventricles 2. Sufficient pressure and muscle stretching within the ventricles is not generated 3. Myocardial contractility is affected in that the heart muscle cannot generate enough 4. The arteries lose their elasticity (elasticity helps keep blood propelled by recoil) which reduces the blood returned to the heart

Which is more common, left or right sided heart failure?

Left sided heart failure is more common, but both left-side or right-sided heart failure will lead to reduced cardiac output from both ventricles. If left untreated left-sided heart failure will result in right sided heart failure as well.