congestive heart failure
Definition
Noun A medical condition characterized by the heart's inability to pump blood sufficiently to meet the body's needs, resulting in the accumulation (congestion) of fluid in the lungs and other body tissues.
Usage
This term is used exclusively in medical contexts to describe a specific, chronic syndrome of cardiac dysfunction. It is a clinical diagnosis, not a single disease.
Examples
- The patient was hospitalized due to congestive heart failure.
- Common symptoms of congestive heart failure include shortness of breath and swollen ankles.
- Managing congestive heart failure often involves medication, dietary changes, and monitoring fluid intake.
Advanced Usage
- Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF): A term often used to describe a sudden worsening of the symptoms in a patient with congestive heart failure.
- Systolic vs. Diastolic Heart Failure: These are subtypes of congestive heart failure, referring to whether the problem is with the heart's pumping (systolic) or filling (diastolic) function.
Variants and Related Words
- Heart Failure (HF): Often used interchangeably with congestive heart failure, though technically "heart failure" is a broader term that may not always involve fluid congestion.
- Cardiac Failure: A more general synonym.
- CHF: A common medical abbreviation for congestive heart failure.
Synonyms
- Cardiac insufficiency
- Heart failure (in common usage)
Related Phrases
- Fluid overload: A key consequence and sign of congestive heart failure.
- Pulmonary edema: A serious condition where fluid builds up in the lungs, often caused by congestive heart failure.
Noun
-
inability to pump enough blood to avoid congestion in the tissues