Congestive heart failure is a chronic condition that needs lifelong support and management. However, with proper treatment, this condition of a failing heart may become stronger with subtle improvements in the signs and symptoms of the condition. Doctors might as well help in correcting the condition of heart failure by thoroughly eliminating the real underlying cause of heart failure. For instance, repairing heart failure might involve the repairing of the heart vales or controlling the rhythm of the heart. Treatments vary form person to person depending on the severity of the condition and usually involve a proper balance of appropriate medications in majority of the cases, followed by proper diet and certain devices to enable the proper beating of the heart.

Several medicines are used in conjunction for treating congestive heart failure. Depending on the kind of symptoms and its severity, the medicines would be recommended. You might just be advised one of these drugs mentioned below or may be two or more in combination. Some of the most useful drugs for treating congestive heart failure include:

4 Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or ACE inhibitors: These drugs are essentially helpful in treating congestive heart failure and can even increase lifespan while giving considerable relief form the symptoms. ACE inhibitors are basically a typical type of vasodilator, which means a drug that can widen or dilate the blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow and decreasing the heart’s workload. Medicines like enalaprul (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten) and lisinopril (Zestril, Prinvil) belong to this category. ACE inhibitors can as well blunt the effects of certain hormones that can promote water and salt retention. Side effects of this drug include irritating cough in some cases.

4 Angiotensin II (A-II) receptor blockers or ARBs: These drugs include valsartan (Diovan) and losartan (Cozaar) and contain some of the essential benefits of the ACE inhibitors. The only difference is that these drugs can give you relief from the irritating cough which is associated with the ACE inhibitors. This is an alternative option for people who cannot take ACE inhibitors.

4 Beta Blockers: These drugs help in slowing down the heart beat and also decrease blood pressure. These medicines can as well decrease the risk associated with the development of abnormal rhythms of the heart. Beta blockers can also reduce the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure.

4 Digoxin (Lanoxin): This medicine, also known as digitals, can help in increasing the strength of the heart muscle contractions. It tends to further slow down the heartbeat. Digoxin also helps in reducing the symptoms of heart failure and also aids in improving the ability to survive longer with this condition.

4 Diuretics: Alternatively known as water pills, diuretics can improve urination in patients, thus keeping fluids from getting collected in the body. Some of the common ones include furosemide (Lasix) and beumetanide (Bumex). These drugs further help in decreasing the fluid in the lungs, thus making it easy for the patient to breathe.
4 Aldosterone antagonists: These are basically potassium-sparing diuretics, but they do have some additional properties that assist the heart in functioning properly.
 
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Filed under: Congestive Heart Failure Treatments

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