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| ==Treatment== | | ==Treatment== |
| + | No treatment is recommended prior to the onset of heart failure. Treatment is aimed at managing congestive heart failure through a combination of drugs. |
| + | The aims of treatment are to: |
| + | #Reduce Preload |
| + | *Diuretics to reduce circulating fluid volume (Frusemide, Benzofluazide, Spironolactone, Amiloride) |
| + | *Vasodilators to reduce venous return (Nitrates, ACE inhibitors, Alpha antagonists) |
| + | #Reduce Afterload |
| + | *Vasodilators to decrease systemic vascular resistance |
| + | **ACE inhibitors e.g. Enalapril, Benzapril, Imidopril , |
| + | **Pimobendan |
| + | **Calcium channel blockers e.g. Amlodipine |
| + | **Nitrates e.g. Nitropusside |
| + | #Enhance Systolic function |
| + | *Positive Inotropes to increase cardiac contractility and increase cardiac output. |
| + | **Pimobendan |
| + | ** Digoxin |
| + | **Dobutamine |
| + | **Xanthines |
| + | #Improve Diastolic function |
| + | *Negative Chronotropes to increase the length of diastole (digoxin, atenolol) |
| + | *Calcium channel blockers to improve relaxation (amlodipine) |
| + | # Control cardiac arrhythmias using anti-arhythmic drugs |
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| ==Prognosis== | | ==Prognosis== |
| ==Literature Search== | | ==Literature Search== |