Congestive Heart Failure

Heart failure may cause the following symptoms:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Fatigue
• Swollen legs and feet
• Abnormal heartbeats
• Getting tired easily
• Severe coughing with foamy or bloody mucus
• Frequent urge to urinate, especially at night
• Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
• Unexpected weight gain
• Nausea
• Reduced hunger
• Altered concentration

• Class I – No symptoms
• Class II– Does not interfere with daily routine but may cause fatigue on exertion.
• Class III – Interrupts daily activities causing various symptoms
• Class IV – Causes severe symptoms like shortness of breath even if one is at rest

Causes of heart failure include:

• Narrowing of the blood vessels or arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease)
• High blood pressure
• Heart defects that may present at the time of birth (congenital heart disease)
• Infections Long term use of specific medications (e.g. chemotherapy for cancer)
• Drug abuse
• Genetic heart diseases
• Too fast or too slow heartbeats
• Diabetes Thyroid diseases AIDS Accumulation of iron or proteins in the body
• Alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Obesity

• Left-sided heart failure –  causes difficulty in breathing 
• Right-sided heart failure –  causes swelling, especially legs
• Systolic heart failure –  blood pumping problems
• Diastolic heart failure –  blood filling problems

Max Institute of Heart and Vascular Sciences (MIHVS) is one of the best heart centres in Afghanistan, at Adei Medical Complexs, Afghanistan. We provide treatment for conditions like heart defects, congenital heart disease, pulmonary heart failure, and coronary artery diseases.

With a dedicated team of world class experts and state of the art operation theatres, catheterization labs and other cardiac care technologies, the Institute is a one stop destination for all kinds of cardiac treatments and surgical management of diseases of the heart, lungs and blood vessels.

Facilities available:

• Cardiac Health Check-ups
• Invasive and Interventional Cardiology
• Electrophysiology, Pacemaker and
• Arrhythmia Services
• Acute MI Service with Control
• Command Center
• Comprehensive management of
• Abdominal and Descending Thoracic
• Aneurysm, Varicose Veins

• ECMO Heart Hole Surgery (ASD, VSD, PDA)
• Angioplasty/ Angiography
• Cardiac Surgery
• Paediatric Cardiology and Paediatric Cardiac Surgery
• Vascular Intervention and Surgeries
• Surgery for Stroke Prevention
• Heart Transplant
• Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

At Max Institute of Heart and Vascular Sciences, we are known for providing excellent treatment for various heart issues. We have modern diagnostic machines that give accurate results.

Some standard diagnostic tests include:

• Assessment of Medical History
• Physical Examination
• Blood Tests
• Imaging Tests (Chest X-ray, CT Scan, MRI)
• ElectroCardioGram (ECG)
• EchoCardioGram (ECHO)
• Stress Test
• Coronary Angiogram
• Biopsy
• Holter Monitoring
• Cardiac Catheterization

Max Institute of Heart and Vascular Sciences is a tertiary care centre at Adei Medical Complexs, Afghanistan. It is equipped with cutting-edge technology that offers cardiac care programs to patients. We also provide an alternative treatment for end-stage heart failure patients with procedures like Pacemaker, ACD, CRT, Heart Hole surgeries (ASD, VSD, PDA), Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Angioplasty/Angiography. Our hospitals are equipped with state-of-the-art Cath Labs, operation theatres, and several other heart care technologies.

Although heart failure is a severe condition, most of its causes can be reversed with practical treatment approaches.

Treatment strategies may include:

• Drugs and medications: The doctor may prescribe several medications or combination of medications to improve the underlying condition and overall symptoms. E.g. Medicines to reduce BP, correct heart rhythm, strengthen the heart muscles, to treat obstructed breathing, and many more.
• Coronary bypass surgery: It is the procedure of bypassing the blocked blood vessel with the help of blood vessels from other parts of the body, mostly from the leg. This surgery enables free blood flow through the heart.
• Surgery to correct structural heart defects: Usually, valve defects lead to heart failure. Minor defects often get resolved with surgery, but in those with severely altered structure, replacement of faulty valves with artificial valves may be needed.
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs): It is an artificial device placed under the skin in the chest area and connected to the heart. It helps to regulate and adjust the heartbeats to the normal rhythm.
• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT): It helps the heart chambers to pump the blood efficiently and uniformly.
• Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS): Ventricular assist devices (VADs) can be placed in the abdomen and connected to the heart to keep the blood pumping and flowing through the body tissues. It is especially useful to improve survival chances and quality of life in patients waiting for the heart transplant and/or those with end-stage heart failure but not eligible for transplant.
• Heart transplant: At Adei Medical Complex, we have a team of the best heart specialists in Afghanistan who specialize in treating heart failure through a heart transplant. When all other approaches fail to improve the symptoms, the doctor may suggest replacement of weakened heart with a healthy heart from a matching donor.

1. Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure!
2. Do You Know the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure?
3. Heart Failure in Young Population
4. Heart Failure: Act before it's too late
5. Can Cough Indicate A Signal for Heart Failure?
6. Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
7. Can Salt Cause Heart Failure?
8. Everything You Should Know About the Types of Heart Attacks
9. LVAD: A boon to tackle end-stage heart failure
10. Difference between ECG and ECHO