What is unilateral heart failure?
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Discovery Health answered:Blood contains oxygen and nutrients, and the purpose of the heart is to provide these to the rest of the body. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the failure of the heart to perform this function adequately. CHF occurs when cardiac output, the flow of blood from the heart, decreases. CHF is also fluid back-up behind the failing ventricle, or this together with decreased cardiac output.
The heart is basically two pumps (right side, left side) in one. When either side fails independently of the other, unilateral heart failure occurs.
When the left ventricle can't pump out enough, blood gets backed-up behind the left ventricle in the lungs. This is pulmonary edema, when fluid builds up in the lungs. Shortness of breath is one symptom. And when left-sided heart failure occurs, it often leads to right-sided heart failure.
When the right ventricle cannot pump out enough blood, fluid backs up behind the right ventricle in the veins and capillaries. Because of this back-up, fluid can leak out of the capillaries and build up in the tissues; this is called systemic edema. Edema, the swelling up of fluid, is especially noticeable in the legs.
Blood contains oxygen and nutrients, and the purpose of the heart is to provide these to the rest of the body. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the failure of the heart to perform this function adequately. CHF occurs when cardiac output, the flow... More -
Amanda Trujillo of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:The heart has two sides, called "ventricles." There is a left ventricle, which is considered the "workhorse" of the heart because its job is to make sure blood is pumped all the way down to the kidneys. The right ventricle is responsible for pumping blood that returns to the heart back into the lungs to be reoxygenated. Congestive Heart Failure can be due to a problem with the left ventricle, a problem with the right ventricle, or it can be "mixed" with problems occurring on both sides. Most often, as health care consumers, you will hear "left sided heart failure" or "right sided heart failure." It's a less confusing way of saying "unilateral heart failure."
The heart has two sides, called "ventricles." There is a left ventricle, which is considered the "workhorse" of the heart because its job is to make sure blood is pumped all the way down to the kidneys. The right ventricle is responsible for pumping... More
