Heart Failure Basics
Coronary artery disease.
What is the main cause of heart failure?
This class of medication helps to reduce fluid retention in heart failure.
What are diuretics
The primary imaging test used to assess ejection fraction in heart failure.
What is an Echocardiogram?
This organ is primarily affected by fluid retention in heart failure patients.
What are the kidneys?
This class of medications has shown to reduce mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
What is There are no classes of medications with proven mortality benefit in HFpEF?
Which part of the heart is typically affected in left-sided heart failure?
What is the left ventricle?
This medication is a cardiac glycoside, and helps improve the heart's contractility.
What is digoxin?
This biomarker is commonly elevated in heart failure and used to assess the severity of the condition
What is B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)?
The term for a life-threatening situation where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, leading to organ dysfunction.
What is cardiogenic shock?
The target blood pressure range for most heart failure patients.
What is less than 130/80 mmHg
True or False: Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the body's needs.
What is True?
This medication class reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and the workload of the heart, improving symptoms and survival.
What is the role of beta-blockers in managing heart failure?
This test measures the electrical activity of the heart and may be used to detect arrhythmias in heart failure patients
What is an Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)?
This class of medications may be used to manage the symptoms of heart failure but can also worsen heart failure symptoms in certain cases.
What are Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem)
Device that is often used in advanced heart failure patients who are not responding to medical management.
What is an Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device?
Typical first-line treatment class for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)?
What are ACEI/ARB/ARNI?
Empagliflozin
What is a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor approved for heart failure?
The most common heart rhythm disorder found in heart failure patients.
What is Atrial fibrillation?
A common side effect of ACE inhibitors that heart failure patients should be monitored for.
The primary goal of using a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in heart failure patients.
What is support heart function and maintain adequate blood flow in patients with advanced heart failure?
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
What are the two main types of heart failure
Sacubitril inhibits neprilysin, leading to increased natriuretic peptides, while valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, both of which help reduce blood pressure and fluid retention.
What is the mechanism of action of sacubitril/valsartan?
Indicates heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively.
What is the significance of a reduced ejection fraction?
The role of aldosterone antagonists in the treatment of heart failure.
What is reduce fluid retention, lower blood pressure, and improve survival in heart failure?
This medication selectively inhibits the "funny" current (If) in the sinoatrial node, slowing the heart rate without affecting blood pressure.
What is Ivabradine?