Left-sided heart failure
Definition
Left-sided heart failure is a life-threatening condition in which the left side of the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body.
Alternative Names
Congestive heart failure - leftCauses
Heart failure may affect the right side, the left side, or both sides of the heart. The left side of the heart receives blood rich in oxygen from the lungs and pumps it to the remainder of the body. As the ability to pump blood forward from the left side of the heart is decreased, the remainder of the body does not receive enough oxygen especially when exercising. This results in fatigue.
In addition, the pressure in the veins of the lung increases, which may cause fluid accumulation in the lung. This results in shortness of breath and pulmonary edema.
Common causes of left-sided failure include the following:
- Heart attack
- Chronic blockages of the heart arteries
- High blood pressure
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Leaking or narrow heart valves
- Hypothyroidism
- Heart muscle infections
- Any other disease that damages the heart muscle
In children, common causes include heart birth defects such as abnormal heart valves, abnormal blood vessel connections, or viral infections.
Left-sided heart failure occurs in approximately 1 to 3 of every 100 people and becomes more prevalent with age.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by
URAC, also known as the American
Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is
the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and
accountability, verified by independent audit.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.