An overview of the symptoms and signs of heart failure and the underlying basis for its pharmacological treatment.
This paper examines how the heart supplies the entire body with blood and how cardiac failure is an acute emergency for the homeostasis of the body which will result in death. It covers the molecular and cellular events that cause heart faliure and aims to discuss the mechanisms by which the condition becomes symptomatic as well as explaining the principles behind the current treatments.
“The loss of cardiac output will reduce the arterial blood pressure and will trigger a cascade of events similar to those seen during acute haemorrhage. The drop in blood pressure is detected by the baroceptors which increase their outflow to the sympathetic centre in the medulla oblongata. This causes an increased sympathetic drive. The increased sympathetic stimulation causes increased contractility of the cardiac myocytes to increase the blood pressure and cardiac output. Blood pressure is further protected by the action of the catecholamine released by the adrenal medulla causing vasoconstriction of the visceral organs via the action of alpha 1 adrenoceptors, protecting the supply to the brain and heart. There is also venoconstriction via the actions of the adrenoceptors causing an increase in the central venous pressure which compounds the increase caused by the cardiac failure.”