Although its cause is not always known, congestive heart failure has a variety of known causes, such as a previous heart attack and high blood pressure. When the heart muscle is damaged in cases like these, there is a decrease in pumping capacity, which causes the kidneys to retain sodium and water. When this occurs, the water retained may accumulate in your ankles, abdomen or lungs. The excess water in the lungs may cause a potentially serious problem called pulmonary edema. It often requires hospitalization to manage.
Heart failure is a disease that is more common in the elderly.
Approximately 10 percent of people over age 75 suffer from heart failure. The financial costs pale in comparison to the toll this disease takes on affected individuals. Heart failure patients are greatly impacted by the disease, having to deal with limitations on their breathing, mobility and their general quality of life. The solution to heart failure lies in the Heart Failure Treatment Centers, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, physicians at the Heart Failure Treatment Centers care for patients on an outpatient basis to reduce hospital admissions.