The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug called Entresto for the treatment and management of heart failure.
After a clinical study involving 8,000 patients, the drug was found to decrease the risk of deaths and hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases. The drug was given approval under the FDA priority review program, which involves faster review processes to come up with treatments for serious medical conditions or diseases.
Heart failure is one of the most common medical conditions in the United States, accounting for approximately 5.1 million cases of affected individuals throughout the country. The disease is characterized by the difficulty of the heart to pump sufficient blood throughout the body. When the heart becomes weaker over time, the organs' blood supply gradually decreases and complications may develop.
Causes
Heart failure is caused by other medical conditions or diseases that affect the ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently. Examples of such conditions include coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, kidney pathologies and obesity.
Clinical Manifestations
Patients who may be candidates for heart failure may exhibit signs and symptoms, which include edematous or swollen ankles, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and frequent urination especially at night. Neurological symptoms may also be present and include dizziness, concentration problems, and confusion. Serious problems, which may leave patients to feel extreme discomfort, include palpitations and shortness of breath.
Diagnosis
The diagnostic process involved in detecting heart failure includes obtaining the patient's complete medical health history and performing a comprehensive physical assessment. The medical team may have to ask questions such as past medical history, familial health issues, smoking and drinking habits, previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions and pharmacological treatment details.
After a thorough medical evaluation, the health care team may have to prescribe diagnostic procedures to establish that heart failure may be present. The laboratory exams involved in heart failure include blood tests to check for cholesterol levels and kidney and thyroid status. Imaging studies may also be prescribed to visualize affected parts of the body, and these include chest X-ray and cardiac catheterization. Electrocardiogram and stress test may also be valuable to assess the heart's electrical activity and response to stress respectively.
Treatment
Pharmacological therapy and surgery are the most common medical interventions performed to treat heart failure. Drugs involved in the care of heart failure include beta-blockers, diuretics, blood vessel dilators and calcium channel blockers. Surgery is an invasive treatment option that is often performed to treat advanced conditions in patients who can withstand surgery. Surgical operations necessary in the treatment of heart failure include bypass surgery, heart transplant and heart valve surgery.
Prevention
Professional medical consult is strongly advised to those experiencing symptoms, but even for those who are asymptomatic, simple interventions may be performed to help prevent the disease. Doctors advise individuals to eat a healthy and balanced diet, exercise regularly, prevent respiratory infections, take in maintenance medications and seek psychological help if warranted.
Prognosis
The prognosis of heart failure depends largely on the individual signs and symptoms, promptness of care and the general heart muscle health of patients. For those with long-term illness, it is also an option to consider advance directives so that future care may be designed according to the individual desires of the patients.
Photo: Sharon Sinclair | Flickr
