Heart failure affects nearly 5.1 million people in the U.S. alone, and many cases are linked to obesity related factors such as diets rich in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium. Patients with heart failure are at significant risk for death since the heart cannot pump enough blood supply to reach the demand of vital organs like the liver or kidneys. One of the largest contributing factors that lead to heart failure is coronary artery disease (CDA) that causes vital heart arteries to become constricted. CDA is caused by an accumulation of cholesterol and plaque that sticks to arteries, causing them to harden over time.
Treating heart failure poses various challenges since most patients with the condition are obese and have other related conditions that complicate treatment options. However, new medications like Corlanor are reducing hospitalizations in patients with congestive heart failure. Depending on other contributing health conditions, a patient can develop three different types of heart failure: right-sided heart failure, left-sided heart failure, or congestive heart failure.
Heart Diagram
Right-Sided Heart Failure
Patients develop right-sided heart failure when the blood supply from the heart does not reach the lungs properly. The cause of this type of heart failure occurs when the right ventricle, a chamber within the heart, doe not pump sufficient oxygen depleted blood to the lungs. As a result, fluid pressure builds up within the lungs, and damages the right side of the heart. Patients with this type of heart failure will often experience symptoms like swelling of the legs, ankles, and abdomen.
Left-Sided Heart Failure
The heart is responsible for pumping oxygen rich blood throughout the body after it travels through the lungs. Patients develop left-sided heart failure when the left-ventricle, which provides most of the hearts pumping power, is weakened and cannot supply the blood needed to the rest of the body. There are two types of left-sided heart failure, systolic failure and diastolic failure. In systolic failure, the left ventricle cannot contract normally, thus affecting the hearts ability to pump blood with sufficient blood needed for circulation. Diastolic failure occurs when the left ventricle cannot relax due to stiffness, inhibiting the heart from filling up with blood during resting periods as the heart beats. One of the most common symptoms patients with left-sided heart failure experience is shortness of breath due to the build up of fluid within the lungs.
Congestive Heart Failure
Patients who develop congestive heart failure are at great risk for death if they do not seek immediate medical attention. This condition occurs when the blood flow from the heart slows, causing the blood supply to back up in the veins and heart. One of the most common symptoms of congestive heart failure is shortness of breath that is followed by extreme fatigue that is caused by swelling. Patients with congestive heart failure can also experience swelling of other body parts like the legs or ankles, but this swelling can occur in almost any body tissue.
New Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure
Patients with congestive failure are at significant risk for a heart attack or stroke if the condition is left untreated. Corlanor is the first treatment in the past decade that reduces hospitalization in patients on other medications like maximum dosage beta-blockers or worsening heart failure. When taken as directed, Corlanor can help patients with the following clinical profile:
• Symptoms of heart failure are stable and monitored by a doctor.
• A normal heartbeat with a resting rate of at least 70 beats per minute.
• Taking beta-blockers at the highest dose they can tolerate or are not on beta-blockers because of other existing medical conditions.
Corlanor New Heart Medication
The active ingredient in Corlanor, ivabradine, works by lowering the heart rate to reduce the strain on the weakened heart pumping oxygen to the rest of the body.
Among some of the most common side effects patients on Corlanor experience are high blood pressure and temporary brightness in their field of vision caused by sudden changes in light. Some of the more serious side effects include irregular heartbeat, a low heart rate that can cause dizziness, fatigue, and low blood pressure. It is important to note that women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should not take Corlanor as it may cause harm the unborn baby. For more information about Corlanor and for free discounts on this and other heart medications search our site.
