Word: Congestive Heart Failure
Definition:Congestive heart failure (often shortened to CHF) is a medical condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. This leads to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, and fatigue.
Usage Instructions: - "Congestive heart failure" is a noun phrase. - It is used in medical contexts, often when discussing heart health or illnesses.
Example: - "After visiting the doctor, he learned that he had congestive heart failure, which explained his constant tiredness and difficulty breathing."
Advanced Usage: - In medical discussions, you might hear about different stages of congestive heart failure (like mild, moderate, or severe). - Doctors may refer to treatments for CHF, such as medications, lifestyle changes, or in severe cases, surgery.
Word Variants: - Congestive (adjective): Related to congestion or the accumulation of fluid. - Heart (noun): The organ that pumps blood in the body. - Failure (noun): The state of not functioning properly.
Different Meanings: - In a different context, "failure" can refer to not succeeding in a task or goal, but in this medical term, it specifically refers to the heart's inability to function adequately.
Synonyms: - Heart failure - Cardiac failure - Congestive cardiac failure
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically for "congestive heart failure," but you might hear phrases like "to be in heart failure" or "to manage heart failure," which describe living with this condition.
Understanding congestive heart failure is important for recognizing heart health issues.