8/30/2023 0 Comments Heart fluid retention![]() ![]() Effective therapy reduces the backup of blood in the heart. Also, BNP is very helpful in guiding the treatment of HF. In general, the higher the level, the worse it is. Slightly high BNP levels are less conclusive but patients with suspected HF and very high BNP levels can get started on therapy with less delay.īNP is also helpful in determining the outlook for patients with heart failure. A normal BNP level makes HF less likely, freeing doctors to hunt for other conditions that may be causing shortness of breath or fluid retention. A simple, accurate, inexpensive tests can measure BNP in blood samples.īNP is very helpful in diagnosing HF. In heart failure, the heart chambers are stressed causing them to produce and release extra BNP, which pours into the bloodstream. So, when doctors suspect HF, they usually order a BNP blood test and an echocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis and assess its severity. But mild HF can be tricky to recognize, and various lung diseases, liver diseases, and kidney diseases can mimic HF. Diagnosing heart failureĭoctors can often diagnose HF on clinical grounds, confirmed by simple studies like chest x-rays, EKGs, and routine blood tests. In addition, fluid can back up in the liver, abdomen and even the scrotum in men. Because gravity draws fluid downward, the feet and legs often become puffy during the day, only to slim down in bed at night. Also "wet" lungs are more susceptible to pneumonia.Īs fluid builds up, it can accumulate elsewhere in the body. Sometimes the most prominent symptom is coughing or wheezing. Patients with heart failure often need to sleep on extra pillows because they get terribly winded if they lie flat they can even be awakened by shortness of breath so severe that they have to sit bolt upright. At first, it occurs only during physical exertion, but advanced HF makes breathing a chore even at rest. Shortness of breath is a common complaint. The backup of blood produces even more symptoms. Deprived of its full complement of blood, the brain can slow down along with the rest of the body, producing lethargy, confusion, and even grogginess. Kidney function may be impaired, sometimes permanently, adding to the fatigue and complicating treatment. Skeletal muscle function suffers, making it hard to get around. The lack of sufficient tissue oxygen makes people with heart failure feel weak and tired. In HF, the weakened or stiff pump is not up to the task the tissues don't get all the oxygen-rich blood they need, and blood backs up in the lungs, abdomen and legs. The heart's job is to collect blood from the veins, then pump it through the arteries to all the body's tissues. Less often, HF can also be caused by heart muscle diseases ( cardiomyopathies) from a viral infection, over use of alcohol, or certain genetic disorders. In other cases, heart valve disease is to blame. The most common causes are coronary artery disease and hypertension. Heart failure results when the heart becomes too weak or too stiff to pump normally. BNP in heart failureīNP helps the body compensate for heart failure (HF) measurements of BNP help doctors diagnose and treat this serious condition. ![]() And they surge into action when they are needed most, when the heart itself is under siege. They are part of the body's natural defense mechanisms designed to protect the heart from stress. The net effect of natriuretic peptides is to promote urine excretion, relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and reduce the heart's workload. In addition, the natriuretic peptides reduce the production of various hormones that narrow blood vessels, boost the heart rate, or affect fluid retention examples include adrenaline, angiotensin, and aldosterone. They also work on the kidneys, causing them to excrete more salt and water. They act on blood vessels, causing them to dilate, or widen. These natriuretic peptides have an important role in regulating the circulation. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) belongs to a family of protein hormones called natriuretic peptides. ![]()
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