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Heart failureCardiomyopathy; Congestive heart failure
An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of heart failure.
Heart Failure
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body's tissues. Heart failure can develop slowly over time as the result of other conditions (such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease) that weaken the heart. It can also occur suddenly as the result of damage to the heart muscle.
Common signs and symptoms of heart failure include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or cough
- Fluid retention and weight gain
- Loss of appetite
- Abnormally fast or slow heart rate
Treatment for heart failure depends on its severity. All patients need dietary salt restriction and other lifestyle adjustments, medication, and monitoring. Patients withsevere heart failuremay needimplanted devices (such as pacemakers, implantable cardiac defibrillators, or devices that help the heart pump blood) or surgery, including heart transplantation.
Doctors usually treat heart failure, and the underlying conditions that cause it, with a combination of medications. These medications include:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Beta blockers
- Diuretics
- Aldosterone blockers
In some cases, doctors may also prescribe other drugs such as:
- Digitalis
- Hydralazine or nitrates
Other medications that may be helpful include:
- Statins
- Aspirin and warfarin
Decision Making in Advanced Heart Failure
For patients with advanced heart failure, symptom relief, quality of life, and personal values are as important to consider as survival, advises the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA notes that while technology has increased the treatment options for advanced heart failure, "doing everything is not always the right thing." AHA guidelines emphasize a patient-centered approach to treatment and the importance of patients discussing with their doctors their preferences, expectations, and goals.
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body's tissues. To understand what occurs in heart failure, it helps tounderstand the anatomy of the heart and how it works.
The heart is composed of two independent pumping systems, one on the right side, and the other on the left. Each has two chambers, an atrium and a ventricle. The ventricles are the major pumps in the heart.
The Right Side of the Heart. The right system receives blood from the veins of the whole body. This is "used" blood, which is poor in oxygen and rich in carbon dioxide. In the right side of the heart:
- The right atrium is the first chamber that receives blood.
- The chamber expands as its muscles relax to fill with blood that has returned from the body.
- The blood enters a second muscular chamber called the right ventricle.
- The right ventricle is one of the heart's two major pumps. Its function is to pump the blood into the lungs.
- The lungs restore oxygen to the blood and exchange it with carbon dioxide, which is exhaled.
The Left Side of the Heart. The left system receives blood from the lungs. This blood is now rich in oxygen. In theleft side of the heart:
- The oxygen-rich blood returns through veins coming from the lungs (pulmonary veins) to the heart.
- The heart receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs in the left atrium, the first chamber on the left side.
- Here, it moves to the left ventricle, a powerful muscular chamber that pumps the blood back out to the body.
- The left ventricle is the strongest of the heart's pumps. Its thicker muscles need to perform contractions powerful enough to force the blood to all parts of the body.
- Systolic blood pressure (the first and higher number in blood pressure measurement) indicates the pressure in the heart's arteries produced by this strong contraction. Diastolic blood pressure (the lower number in blood pressure readings) measures the arterial pressure produced when the left ventricle relaxes to refill with blood between beats.
- Blood leaves the heart through the aorta, the major artery that feeds blood to the entire body.
The Valves. Valves are muscular flaps that open and close so blood will flow in the right direction. There are four valves in the heart:
- The tricuspid valve regulates blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
- The pulmonary valve opens to allow blood to flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.
- The mitral valve regulates blood flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
- The aortic valve allows blood to flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.
The Heart's Electrical System. Heartbeats are triggered and regulated by the conducting system, a network of specialized muscle cells that form a type of electrical system in the heart muscles. These cells are connected by channels that pass chemically-triggered electrical impulses.
Description of Heart Failure
Heart failure is a process, not a disease. The heart doesn't "fail" in the sense of ceasing to beat (as occurs during cardiac arrest). Rather, it weakens, usually over the course of months or years, so that it is unable to pump out all the blood that enters its chambers. As a result, fluids build up in the lungs and tissues, causing congestion. This is why heart failure is also sometimes referred to as "congestive heart failure."
Ways the Heart Can Fail. Heart failure can occur in several ways:
- The muscles of the heart pumps (ventricles) become thin and weakened. They stretch (dilate) and cannot pump the blood with enough force to reach all the body's tissues.
- The heart muscles become stiff or thick. They lose elasticity and cannot relax. Insufficient blood enters the chamber, so not enough blood is pumped out into the body to serve its needs.
- Sometimes the valves of the heart are abnormal. (Valves open or close to control the flow of blood entering or leaving the heart). They may narrow, such as in aortic stenosis, causing a back-up of blood, or they may close improperly so that blood leaks back into the heart. The mitral valve (which regulates blood flow between the two chambers on the left side of the heart) often becomes leaky in severe heart failure -- a condition called mitral regurgitation.
- The mechanisms that the body uses to compensate for inefficient heart pumping can, over time, change (remodel) the architecture of the heart and finally lead to irreversible problems.
Heart failure's specific effects on the body depend on whether it occurs on the left or right sides of the heart. Over time, in either form of heart failure, the organs in the body do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, and the body's wastes are removed slowly. Eventually, vital systems break down.
Failure on the Left Side (Left-Ventricular Heart Failure). Failure on the left side of the heart is more common than failure on the right side. The failure can be a result of abnormal systolic (contraction) or diastolic (relaxation) action:
- Systolic. Systolic heart failure is a pumping problem. In systolic failure, the heart muscles weaken and cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. The left ventricle is usually stretched (dilated). Fluid backs up and accumulates in the lungs (pulmonary edema). Systolic heart failure typically occurs in men between the ages of 50 - 70 years who have had a heart attack.
- Diastolic. Diastolic heart failure is a filling problem. When the left ventricle muscle becomes stiff and cannot relax properly between heartbeats, the heart cannot fill fully with blood. When this happens, fluid entering the heart backs up. This causes the veins in the body and tissues surrounding the heart to swell and become congested. Patients with diastolic failure are typically women, overweight, and elderly, and have high blood pressure and diabetes.
Ejection Fraction. To help determine the severity of left-sided heart failure, doctors use an ejection fraction (EF) calculation, also called a left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This is the percentage of the blood pumped out from the left ventricle during each heartbeat. An ejection fraction of 50 - 75% is considered normal. Patients with left-ventricular heart failure are classified as either having a preserved ejection fraction (greater than 50%) or a reduced ejection fraction (less than 50%).
Patients with preserved LVEF heart failure are more likely to be female and older, and have a history of high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation (a disturbance in heart rhythm).
Failure on the Right Side (Right-Ventricular Heart Failure). Failure on the right side of the heart is most often a result of failure on the left. Because the right ventricle receives blood from the veins, failure here causes the blood to back up. As a result, the veins surrounding the heart fill up with blood and fluid. This fluid is pushed out into the body's tissues and causes swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, and abdomen. Pulmonary hypertension (increase in pressure in the lung's pulmonary artery) and lung disease may also cause right-sided heart failure.
Heart failure has many causes and can evolve in different ways.
- It can be a direct, latest-stage result of heart damage from one or more heart or circulation diseases.
- It can occur over time as the heart tries to compensate for abnormalities caused by these conditions, a condition called remodeling.
In all cases, the weaker pumping action of the heart means that less blood is sent to the kidneys. The kidneys respond by retaining salt and water. This in turn increases edema (fluid buildup) in the body, which causes widespread damage.
High Blood Pressure
Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) is a major cause of heart failure even in the absence of a heart attack. In fact, about 75% of cases of heart failure start with hypertension. It generally develops as follows:
- The heart muscles thicken to make up for increased blood pressure.
- The force of the heart muscle contractions weaken over time, and the muscles have difficulty relaxing. This prevents the normal filling of the heart with blood.
Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack
Coronary artery disease is the end result of a process called atherosclerosis (commonly called "hardening of the arteries"). It is the most common cause of heart attack and involves the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries, with inflammation and injury in the cells of the blood vessels. The arteries narrow and become brittle. Heart failure in such cases most often results from a pumping defect in the left side of the heart.
People often survive heart attacks, but many eventually develop heart failure from the damage the attack does to the heart muscles.
Valvular Heart Disease
The valves of the heart control the flow of blood leaving and entering the heart. Abnormalities can cause blood to back up or leak back into the heart.
In the past, rheumatic fever, which scars the heart valves and prevents them from functioning properly, was a major cause of death from heart failure. Fortunately, antibiotics and other advances have now made this disease a minor cause of heart failure in industrialized nations. Birth defects may also cause abnormal valvular development. Although more children born with heart defects are now living to adulthood, they still face a higher than average risk for heart failure as they age.
Cardiomyopathy is a disorder that damages the heart muscles and leads to heart failure. There are several different types. Injury to the heart muscles may cause the heart muscles to thin out (dilate) or become too thick (become hypertrophic). In either case, the heart doesn't pump correctly. Viral myocarditis is a rare viral infection that involves the heart muscle and can produce either temporary or permanent heart muscle damage.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy involves an enlarged heart ventricle. The muscles thin out, reducing the pumping action, usually on the left side. Although this condition is associated with genetic factors, the direct cause is often not known. (This is called idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.) In other cases, viral infections, alcoholism, and high blood pressure may increase the risk for this condition.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscles become thick and have difficulty contracting. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be due to a genetic defect that causes a loss of power in heart muscle cells and, subsequently, lower pumping strength. To compensate for this power loss, the heart muscle cells grow. This condition, rare in the general population, is often the cause of sudden death in young athletes.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy. Restrictive cardiomyopathy refers to a group of disorders in which the heart chambers are unable to properly fill with blood because of stiffness in the heart. The heart is of normal size or only slightly enlarged. However, it cannot relax normally during the time between heartbeats when the blood returns from the body to the heart (diastole). The most common causes of restrictive cardiomyopathy are amyloidosis and scarring of the heart from an unknown cause (idiopathic myocardial fibrosis). It often occurs after heart transplant.
Severe Lung Diseases
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (severe chronic bronchitis or emphysema) and other major lung diseases are risk factors for right-sided heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension is increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The increased pressure makes the heart work harder to pump blood, which can cause heart failure. .
Thyroid Disorders
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can have severe effects on the heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
Risk Factors
Coronary artery disease, heart attack, and high blood pressure are the main causes and risk factors of heart failure. Other diseases that damage or weaken the heart muscle or heart valves can also cause heart failure. Heart failure is most common in people over age 65, African-Americans, and women.
Heart failure risk increases with advancing age. Heart failure is the most common reason for hospitalization in people age 65 years and older.
Men are at higher risk for heart failure than women. However, women are more likely than men to develop diastolic heart failure (a failure of the heart muscle to relax normally), which is often a precursor to systolic heart failure (impaired ability to pump blood).
African-Americans are more likely than Caucasians to develop heart failure before age 50 and die from the condition.
Family History and Genetics
People with a family history of cardiomyopathies (diseases that damage the heart muscle) are at increased risk of developing heart failure. Researchers are investigating specific genetic variants that increase heart failure risk.
People with diabetes are at high risk for heart failure, particularly if they also have coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Some types of diabetes medications, such as rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos),may cause or worsenheart failure. Chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes also increases heart failure risk.
Obesity is associated with both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, conditions that place people at risk for heart failure. Evidence strongly suggests that obesity itself is a major risk factor for heart failure, particularly in women.
Lifestyle Factors
Smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and alcohol and drug abuse can increase the risk for developing heart failure.
Medications Associated with Heart Failure
Certain drugs can potentially damage the heart and increase the risk for heart failure. Long-term use of high-dose anabolic steroids (male hormones used to build muscle mass) increases the risk for heart failure. The cancer drug imatinib (Gleevec) has been associated with heart failure. Other chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin, can increase the risk for developing heart failure years after cancer treatment. (Cancer radiation therapy to the chest can also damage the heart muscle.)
The complications caused by heart failure influence a patient's chance for survival. Although heart failure produces very high mortality rates, treatment advances are improving survival rates.
Cardiac Cachexia. If patients with heart failure are overweight to begin with, their condition tends to be more severe. Once heart failure develops, an important indicator of a worsening condition is the occurrence of cardiac cachexia, which is unintentional rapid weight loss (a loss of at least 7.5% of normal weight within 6 months).
Impaired Kidney Function. Heart failure weakens the heart's ability to pump blood. This can affect other parts of the body including the kidneys (which in turn can lead to fluid build-up). Decreased kidney function is common in patients with heart failure, both as a complication of heart failure and other diseases associated with heart failure (such as diabetes). Studies suggest that, in patients with heart failure, impaired kidney function increases the risks for heart complications, including hospitalization and death.
Congestion (Fluid Buildup). In left-sided heart failure, fluid builds up first in the lungs, a condition called pulmonary edema. Later, as right-sided heart failure develops, fluid builds up in the legs, feet, and abdomen. Fluid buildup is treated with lifestyle measures, such as reducing salt in the diet, as well as drugs, such as diuretics.
Arrhythmias (Irregular Beatings of the Heart). There are several types of arrhythmias:
- Atrial fibrillation is a rapid quivering beat in the upper chambers of the heart. It is a major cause of stroke and very dangerous in people with heart failure.
- Left bundle-branch block is an abnormality in electrical conduction in the heart. It develops in about 30% of patients with heart failure.
- Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are life-threatening arrhythmias that can occur in patients when heart function is significantly impaired.
Angina and Heart Attacks. While coronary artery disease is a major cause of heart failure, patients with heart failure are at continued risk for angina and heart attacks. Special care should be taken with sudden and strenuous exertion, particularly snow shoveling, during colder months.
Many symptoms of heart failure result from the congestion that develops as fluid backs up into the lungs and leaks into the tissues. Other symptoms result from inadequate delivery of oxygen-rich blood to the body's tissues. Since heart failure can progress rapidly, it is essential to consult a doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms are detected:
Fatigue. Patients may feel unusually tired.
Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea). Symptoms and types of dyspnea include:
- Feeling out of breath after exertion. While this may begin only when climbing stairs or taking longer walks, it can eventually be present even when walking around the home. (Patients who have chest pain or feel like a heavy weight is pressing on the chest should also be evaluated for possible angina.)
- Orthopnea refers to the shortness of breath felt when lying flat at night. Patients may report that they need to use one or two pillows underneath their head and shoulders in order to be able to sleep. Sitting up with legs hanging over the side of the bed often relieves symptoms.
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) refers to sudden episodes that cause awakening at night. Symptoms include severe shortness of breath and coughing or wheezing, which generally occur 1 - 3 hours after going to sleep. Unlike orthopnea, symptoms are not relieved by sitting up.
Fluid Retention (Edema) and Weight Gain. Heart failure can cause foot, ankle, leg or abdominal swelling. In rare cases, swelling can occur in the veins of the neck. Fluid retention can cause sudden weight gain and frequent urination.
Wheezing or Cough. Heart failure can cause asthma-like wheezing, or a dry hacking cough that occurs a few hours after lying down but then stops after sitting up.
Loss of Muscle Mass. Over time, patients may lose muscle weight due to low cardiac output and a significant reduction in physical activity.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Problems include loss of appetite or a sense of feeling full after eating small amounts. Patients may also have abdominal pain.
Pulmonary Edema. When fluid in the lungs builds up, it is called pulmonary edema, which produces severe symptoms. that may develop suddenly or gradually build up over a matter of days:
- In addition to shortness of breath, patients sometimes have a cough that produces a pinkish froth.
- Patients may experience a bubbling sensation in the lungs and feel as if they are drowning.
- Typically, the skin is clammy and pale, sometimes nearly blue. This is a life-threatening situation, and the patient must go immediately to an emergency room.
Abnormal Heart Rhythms.Heart failure can causeepisodes of abnormally fast or slow heart rate.
Central Sleep Apnea. This sleep disorder results when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe during sleep. It occurs in up to half of people with heart failure. Sleep apnea causes disordered breathing at night. If heart failure progresses, the apnea may be so acute that a person, unable to breathe, may awaken from sleep in panic.
Doctors can often make a preliminary diagnosis of heart failure by medical history and careful physical examination.
A thorough medical history may identify risks for heart failure that include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Abnormal cholesterol levels
- Heart disease or history of heart attack
- Thyroid problems
- Obesity
- Lifestyle factors (such as smoking, alcohol use, and drug use)
The following physical signs, along with medical history, strongly suggest heart failure:
- Enlarged heart
- Abnormal heart sounds
- Abnormal sounds in the lungs
- Swelling or tenderness of the liver
- Fluid retention in legs and abdomen
- Elevation of pressure in the veins of the neck
Laboratory Tests
Both blood and urine tests are used to check for problems with the liver and kidneys and to detect signs of diabetes. Lab tests can measure:
- Complete blood counts to check for anemia
- Kidney function blood and urine tests
- Sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes
- Cholesterol and lipid levels
- Blood sugar (glucose)
- Thyroid function
- Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a hormone that increases during heart failure. BNP testing can be very helpful in correctly diagnosing heart failure in patients who come to the emergency room complaining of shortness of breath (dyspnea).
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart. It is also called an EKG. An electrocardiogram cannot diagnose heart failure, but it may indicate underlying heart problems. The test is simple and painless to perform. It may be used to diagnose:
- Previous heart attack
- Abnormal cardiac rhythms
- Enlargement of the heart muscle, which may help to determine long-term outlook
- A finding called a prolonged QT interval may indicate people with heart failure who are at risk for severe complications and therefore need more aggressive therapies.
A completely normal ECG means that heart failure is unlikely.
The best diagnostic test for heart failure is echocardiography. Echocardiography is a noninvasive test that uses ultrasound to image the heart as it is beating. Cardiac ultrasounds provide the following information:
- Evaluations of valve function
- Information about how well the heart is pumping, especially a measurement called left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF)
- Type of heart failure
- Changes in the structure of the heart that may be a result of heart failure
Doctors use information from the echocardiogram for calculating the ejection fraction (how much blood is pumped out during each heartbeat), which is important for determining the severity of heart failure. Stress echocardiography may be needed if coronary artery disease is suspected.
Doctors may recommend angiography if they suspect that blockage of the coronary arteries is contributing to heart failure. This procedure is invasive.
- A thin tube called a catheter is inserted into one of the large arteries in the arm or leg.
- It is gently guided through the artery until it reaches the heart.
- The catheter measures internal blood pressure at various locations, giving the doctor a picture of the extent andseverity of the heart failure.
- Dye is then injected through the tube into the heart.
- X-rays called angiograms are taken as the dye moves through the heart and arteries.
- These images help locate problems in the heart's pumping action or blockage in the arteries.
Radionuclide Ventriculography. Radionuclide ventriculography is an imaging technique that uses a tiny amount of radioactive material (called a trace element). It is very sensitive in revealing heart enlargement or evidence of fluid accumulation around the heart and lungs. It may be done at the same time as coronary artery angiography. It can help diagnose or exclude the presence of coronary artery disease andalso demonstrate how the heart works during exercise.
Other Imaging Tests
Chest x-rays can show whether the heart is enlarged. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used to evaluate the heart valves and arteries.
Exercise Stress Test
The exercise stress test measures heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiographic changes, and oxygen consumption while a patient is performing physically, usually walking on a treadmill. It can help determine heart failure symptoms. Doctors also use exercise tests to evaluate long-term outlook and the effects of particular treatments. A stress test may be done using echocardiography or may be done as a nuclear stress test (myocardial perfusion imaging).
Heart failure is classified into four stages (Stage A through Stage D) that reflect the development and progression of the condition. Treatment depends on the stage of heart failure.
Stage A is not technically heart failure, but indicates that a patient is at high risk for developing it. In Stage B, the patient has had damage to the heart (for example, from a heart attack) but does not yet have symptoms of heart failure. In Stage C, heart failure symptoms manifest.
Stage D is advanced heart failure accompanied by symptoms that may be difficult to manage with standard drug treatments and may require more technologically complex care (defibrillators, mechanical pumps, heart transplantation). The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of a patient-centered approach to treatment decisions. Patients with advanced heart failure should have ongoing honest discussions with their health care providers concerning their personal preferences and quality of life goals.
Management of Risk Factors and Causes
Stage A. In Stage A, patients are at high risk for heart failure but do not show any symptoms or have structural damage of the heart. The first step in managing or preventing heart failure is to treat the primary conditions that cause or complicate heart failure. Risk factors include high blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and previous use of medications that damage the heart (such as some chemotherapy).
Important risk factors to manage include:
- Coronary artery disease. Treatment includes a healthy diet, exercise, smoking cessation, medications, and, possibly, bypass or angioplasty.
- Cholesterol and lipid problems. Treatments include lifestyle management and medications, especially statin drugs.
- High blood pressure. A normal systolic blood pressure is considered below 120 mm Hg, and a normal diastolic blood pressure is below 80 mm Hg. High blood pressure is diagnosed when measurements are 140/90 mm Hg or above. Reducing blood pressure can reduce the risk for developing heart failure.
- Diabetes. Treating type 1 diabetes and type2 diabetesis extremely important for reducing the risk for heart disease. ACE inhibitors are especially beneficial, particularly for people with diabetes. Research suggests that metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes, may also help prevent heart failure.
- Obesity.
- Valvular abnormalities, such as aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. Surgery may be required.
- Abnormal health rhythms (arrhythmias). Ventricular assisted devices, notably biventricular pacers (BVPs), can help prevent hospitalizations for patients with these conditions.
- Anemia. Patients with heart failure and underlying anemia should have their anemia corrected. On occasion, this may require erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs.
- Thyroid function. Various medications are used to treat overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
- Drugs. Avoid drugs that can worsen heart failure symptoms. Talk with your doctor about your heart failure before taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem), thiazolidinediones (drugs used for diabetes), antitumor necrosis factor medications, and most drugs used to treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia).
- Diet and Exercise. It is particularly important to reduce sodium (salt) intake to less than 2,300 mg a day (ask your doctor for specific sodium intake goals). Patients should engage in medically supervised exercise programs. Dietary changes and exercise are important for treating all stages of heart failure.
Treatment Based on Heart Failure Stage
Stage B. Patients have a structural heart abnormality seen on echocardiogram or other imaging tests but no symptoms of heart failure. Abnormalities include left ventricular hypertrophy and low ejection fraction, asymptomatic valvular heart disease, and a previous heart attack. In addition to the treatment guidelines for Stage A, the following types of drugs and devices may be recommended for some patients:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) for patients who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors.
- Beta blockers for patients with a recent or past history of heart attack. Also for patients who have not had a heart attack but who do have reduced LVEF identified in diagnostic tests.
Stage C. Patients have a structural abnormality and current or previous symptoms of heart failure, including shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty exercising. Treatment includes those for Stage A and B plus:
- Restrict dietary sodium (salt). Lowering sodium in the diet can help diuretics work better.
- ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs).
- Beta blockers (bisoprolol, carvedilol, and sustained release metoprolol).
- Diuretics are recommended for most patients, with loop diuretics such as furosemide generally being the first-line choice.
- Aldosterone inhibitors are recommended for many patients. Digitalis may be prescribed for some patients.
- A hydralazine and nitrate combination (BiDil)may be used for African-American patients who are taking an ACE inhibitor, beta blocker, and diuretic and who still have heart failure symptoms.
- Exercise training for appropriate patients.
- Implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) may be considered for patients with very low ejection fraction or those who have had dangerous arrhythmias.
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (pacemaker), with or without ICD, for some patients.
Stage D. Patients have end-stage symptoms that do not respond to standard treatments. Treatment focuses not only on survival but on symptom relief and quality of life issues. Treatment includes appropriate measures used for Stages A, B, and C plus:
- Strict control of fluid retention.
- Heart transplantation referral for appropriate patients.
- Left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as permanent therapy for patients who are not candidates for heart transplants. LVADs are surgically implanted to help pump blood through the body.
- Hospice and end-of-life care information for patients and families.
- Patients have the right to choose or decline treatments based on their personal preferences, values, and goals. Quality of life is as important a consideration as survival.
Managing Triggers of Heart Failure Symptoms
Whenever heart failure worsens, whether quickly or chronically over time, various factors must be considered as the cause:
- Dietary indiscretion. Sometimes as little as eating a sausage or some sauerkraut with a high sodium content is enough to precipitate an acute episode. Failure to comply with fluid and salt restrictions must be considered whenever heart failure worsens.
- Alcohol. Depending on the severity of a patient's heart failure, one or more drinks may suddenly worsen symptoms.
- Medication compliance. Patients may forget or purposely skip a medication, or they may not be able to afford or have access to medications.
- Angina or heart attack. Worsening of coronary artery disease may make the heart muscle less able to pump enough blood.
- Arrhythmias. Increases in the heart rate, or a slowing of the heart rate below normal, may also affect the ability of the heart to function. Likewise, an irregular heart rhythm such as atrial fibrillation may cause a flareup.
- Anemia. It is unclear whether anemia causes heart failure or is a symptom of heart failure. Some anemias may be treated with iron replacement therapy. A more significant anemia can cause a worsening of heart failure and should be treated promptly.
Many different medications are used in the treatment of heart failure. They include:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Beta blockers
- Diuretics
- Aldosterone blockers
- Digitalis
- Hydralazine and nitrates
- Statins
- Aspirin and warfarin
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are among the most important drugs for treating patients with heart failure. ACE inhibitors open blood vessels and decrease the workload of the heart. They are used to treat high blood pressure but can also help improve heart and lung muscle function. ACE inhibitors are particularly important for patients with diabetes, because they also help slow progression of kidney disease.
Brands and Indications. ACE inhibitors are used to treat Stage A high-risk conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetic nerve disorders (neuropathy). They are also used to treat Stage B patients who have had a heart attack or who have left ventricular systolic disorder, and Stage C patients with heart failure. Specific brands of ACE inhibitors include:
- Benazepril (Lotensin, generic)
- Captopril (Capoten, generic)
- Enalapril (Vasotec, generic)
- Fosinopril (Monopril, generic)
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, generic)
- Moexipril (Univasc, generic)
- Perindopril (Aceon, generic)
- Quinapril (Accupril, generic)
- Ramipril (Altace, generic)
- Trandolapril (Mavik, generic)
Side Effects of ACE Inhibitors:
- Low blood pressure is the main side effect of ACE inhibitors. This can be severe in some patients, especially at the start of therapy.
- Irritating cough is a common side effect, which some people find intolerable. All ACE inhibitors can have this side effect.
- Although ACE inhibitors can protect against kidney disease, they also increase potassium retention by the kidneys. This increases the risk for cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating) if potassium levels become too high. Because of this action, they are not generally given with potassium-sparing diuretics or potassium supplements.
- Patients who have difficulty tolerating ACE inhibitor side effects are usually switched to an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB).
Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
ARBs, also known as angiotensin II receptor antagonists, are similar to ACE inhibitors in their ability to open blood vessels and lower blood pressure. They may have fewer or less-severe side effects than ACE inhibitors, especially coughing, and are sometimes prescribed as an alternative to ACE inhibitors. Some patients with heart failure take an ACE inhibitor along with an ARB.
Brands and Indications. ARBs are used to treat Stage A high-risk conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetic nerve disorders (neuropathy). They are also used to treat Stage B patients who have had a heart attack or who have left ventricular systolic disorder, and Stage C patients with heart failure. Specific brands include:
- Candesartan (Atacand)
- Valsartan (Diovan)
- Losartan (Cozaar)
- Eprosartan (Teveten)
- Irbesartan (Avapro)
- Olmesartan (Benicar)
- Telmisartan (Micardis)
- Azilsartan (Edarbi)
Common Side Effects
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Raised potassium levels
- Drowsiness
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are almost always used in combination with other drugs, such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics. They help slow heart rate and lower blood pressure. When used properly, beta blockers can reduce the risk of death or rehospitalization.
Brands and Indications. Beta blockers treat Stage A high blood pressure. They also treat Stage B patients (both those who have had a heart attack and those who have not had a heart attack but who have heart damage). A specialist should monitor patients with heart failure who take beta blockers. The three beta blockers that are best for treating Stage C patients with heart failure are:
- Carvedilol (Coreg, generic)
- Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
- Metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL, generic)
Beta Blocker Concerns
- Do not abruptly stop taking these drugs. The sudden withdrawal of beta blockers can increase the risk of angina and even a heart attack. If you need to stop your beta-blocker, your doctor may want you to slowly decrease the dose before stopping completely.
- Beta blockers are categorized as non-selective or selective. Non-selective beta blockers, such as carvedilol, can narrow bronchial airways. Patients with asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis should not use non-selective beta blockers.
- Beta blockers can lower HDL ("good") cholesterol, although the benefits they provide for coronary artery disease and heart failure outweigh any bad effects on cholesterol.
- These drugs can hide warning signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients with diabetes, especially those who take insulin.
Common Side Effects
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Vivid dreams and nightmares
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Coldness in extremities (legs, toes, arms, hands)
Check with your doctor about any side effects. Do not stop taking these drugs on your own.
Diuretics cause the kidneys to rid the body of excess salt and water. Fluid retention is a major symptom of heart failure. Aggressive use of diuretics can help eliminate excess body fluids, while reducing hospitalizations and improving exercise capacity. These drugs are also important to help prevent heart failure in patients with high blood pressure. In addition, certain diuretics, notably spironolactone (Aldactone, generic), block aldosterone, a hormone involved in heart failure. This drug class is beneficial for patients with more severe heart failure (Stages C and D).
Diuretics come in many brands and are generally inexpensive. Some need to be taken once a day, some twice a day. Diuretics are usually started at a low dose and gradually increased. Your doctor may advise you to adjust the amount and timing of the diuretic if you notice swelling or weight gain. Diuretics are virtually always used in combination with other drugs, especially ACE inhibitors and beta blockers.
There are three main types of diuretics:
- Potassium-sparing diuretics include amiloride (Midamor, generic) and triamterene (Dyrenium, generic).
- Thiazide diuretics include chlorothiazide (Diuril, generic), chlorthalidone (Clorpres, generic), indapamide (Lozol, generic), hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, generic), and metolazone (Zaroxolyn, generic).
- Loop diuretics are considered the preferred diuretic type for most patients with heart failure. They include bumentanide (Bumex, generic), furosemide (Lasix, generic), and torsemide (Demadex, generic).
Side Effects. In addition to increased urination, all types of diurectics may cause dry mouth, dehydration, fatigue, muscle cramps, and dizziness and lightheadedness. Diuretics can increase the amount of uric acid in the blood, which can lead to gout. In men, diurectics may produce erectile dysfunction.
Potassium imbalances are an important concern with diuretics:
- Potassium-sparing diuretics can cause abnormally high levels of potassium. This can be especially dangerous for people who have pre-existing elevated levels of potassium or those with damaged kidneys. It is very important not to take potassium supplements or eat foods high in potassium (like bananas) when taking this type of diuretic.
- Loop and thiazide diuretics can cause too-low potassium levels, which increase the risk for life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). If this occurs, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose, recommend potassium supplements, or prescribe a potassium-sparing diuretic either alone or in combination with a thiazide or loop diuretic.
Aldosterone Blockers
Aldosterone is a hormone that is critical in controlling the body's balance of salt and water. Excessive levels play important roles in high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs that block aldosterone are prescribed for some patients with symptomatic heart failure. They reduce death rates for patients with heart failure and coronary artery disease, especially after a heart attack.
Aldosterone blocker brands include spironolactone (Aldactone, generic) and eplerenone (Inspra, generic).
Like loop and thiazide diuretics, aldosterone blockers can cause abnormally high levels of potassium in the blood. Patients should not take potassium supplements at the same time as this drug and may need to avoid foods with high potassium content.
Digitalis is derived from the foxglove plant. It has been used to treat heart disease since the 1700s. Digoxin (Lanoxin, generic) is the most commonly prescribed digitalis preparation. Digoxin decreases heart size and reduces certain heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). Although it was once a mainstay of heart failure treatment, it is now used less often than newer drugs.
Digitalis may be useful for select patients with left-ventricular systolic dysfunction who do not respond to other drugs (diuretics, ACE inhibitors). It may also be used for patients who have atrial fibrillation.
Side Effects and Problems. While digitalis is generally a safe drug, it can have severe adverse side effects. The most serious side effects are arrhythmias. Early signs of toxicity may be irregular heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, visual disturbances (such as yellow vision, seeing halos around lights, flickering or flashing of lights), and emotional and mental disturbances.
Many factors increase the chance for side effects.
- Advanced age
- Low blood potassium levels (which may be caused by diuretics)
- Hypothyroidism
- Anemia
- Valvular heart disease
- Impaired kidney function
Digitalis also interacts with many other drugs, including quinidine, amiodarone, verapamil, flecainide, amiloride, and propafenone.
For most patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure, low-dose digoxin may be as effective as higher doses. If side effects are mild, patients should still consider continuing with digitalis if they experience other benefits.
Hydralazine and Nitrates
Hydralazine and nitrates are two older drugs that help relax arteries and veins, thereby reducing the heart's workload and allowing more blood to reach the tissues. They are used primarily for patients who are unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. BiDil is a drug that combines isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine. BiDil is approved to specifically treat heart failure in African-American patients.
Statins are important drugs used to lower cholesterol and to prevent heart disease leading to heart failure. These drugs include lovastatin (Mevacor, generic), pravastatin (Pravachol, generic), simvastatin (Zocor, generic), fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor, generic), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pitavastatin (Livalo). Atorvastatin is specifically approved to reduce the risks for hospitalization for heart failure in patients with heart disease.
Anti-Platelet and Anticoagulant Drugs
Anti-platelet and anticoagulant drugs help thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots. It is not clear if these drugs are helpful for patients with heart failure who are not at risk for blood clots.
Aspirin. Aspirin is a type of non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAID). Aspirin is recommended for protecting patients with heart disease, and can safely be used with ACE inhibitors, particularly when it is taken in lower dosages (75 - 81 mg).
Warfarin (Coumadin, generic). Warfarin is recommended only for patients with heart failure who also have:
- Atrial fibrillation
- A history of blood clots to the lungs, stroke, or transient ischemic attack
- A blood clot in one of their heart chambers
Other Drugs
Nesiritide (Natrecor). Nesiritide is an intravenous drug that has been used for hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure. Decompensated heart failure is a life-threatening condition in which heart failure progresses over the course of minutes or a few days, often as the result of a heart attack or sudden and severe heart valve problems. Because nesiritide may cause serious kidney damage and has been linked to an increased risk of death from heart failure, the drug is of limited value.
Erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is used to treat anemia, which is a common complication of heart failure. This drug can increase the risk of blood clots and its exact role or the treatment of anemia in patients with heart failure is not yet decided
Tolvaptan. Tolvaptan (Samsca) is a drug approved for treating hyponatremia (low sodium levels) associated with heart failure and other conditions.
Levosimendan. Levosimendan is an experimental drug that is being investigated as a treatment for severely ill patients with heart failure. It belongs to a new class of drugs called calcium sensitizers that may help improve heart contractions and blood flow. The drug appears to reduce levels of BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), a chemical marker for heart failure severity.
Surgery and Devices
Revascularization Surgery
Revascularization surgery helps to restore blood flow to heart affected by coronary artery disease. It can treat blocked arteries in patients with coronary artery disease and may help select patients with heart failure. Surgery types include coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and angioplasty (also called percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]). CABG is a traditional type of open heart surgery. Angioplasty is a less-invasive procedure that uses a catheter to inflate a balloon inside the artery. A metal stent may also be inserted during an angioplasty procedure.
Pacemakers, also called pacers, help regulate the heart's beating action, especially when the heart beats too slowly. Biventricular pacers (BVPs) are a special type of pacemaker used for patients with heart failure. Because BVPs help the heart's left and right chambers beat together, this treatment is called cardiac resynchronization therapy (CST).
BVPs are recommended for patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure that is not controlled with medication therapy and who have evidence of left-bundle branch block on their EKG. Left-bundle branch block is a condition in which the electrical impulses in the heart do not follow their normal pattern, causing the heart to pump inefficiently.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs)
Patients with enlarged hearts are at risk for having serious cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) that are associated with sudden death. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) can quickly detect life-threatening arrhythmias. The ICD is designed to convert any abnormal heart rhythm back to normal by sending an electrical shock to your heart. This action is called defibrillation. This device can also work as a pacemaker.
Patients with ICDs need to avoid certain types of electronic devices that can disrupt the device. They may also need to avoid certain types of medical and imaging procedures. It is important to talk with your doctor about any questions you have about living with an ICD. Be sure to let your doctor know if you feel anxious or depressed –it's not uncommon for patients with ICDs to experience these emotions, and psychological support is important for both patients and their families.
In recent years, certain ICD models and biventricular pacemaker-defibrillators have been recalled by the manufacturers because of circuitry flaws. However, doctors stress that the chance of an ICD or pacemaker saving a person's life far outweigh the possible risks of these devices failing.
Ventricular Assist Devices
Ventricular assist devices are mechanical devices that help improve pumping actions. They are used as a bridge to transplant for patients who are on medications but still have severe symptoms and are waiting for a donor heart. In some cases, they may delay the need for a transplant. Therefore they may be used as short-term (less than 1 week) or longer term support.
Ventricular assist devices include:
- Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used for patients whose heart beat has slowed dangerously to help take over the pumping action of the failing heart. Until recently, these machines required remaining in the hospital. Smaller battery-powered implanted LVAD units are now allowing many patients to leave the hospital while they wait for a transplant.
- Intra-aortic balloon pumps are helpful for temporarily maintaining heart function in patients with left-side failure who are waiting for transplants and for those who develop a sudden and severe deterioration of heart function. The IABP is an implanted thin balloon that is usually inserted into the artery in the leg and threaded up to the aorta leading from the heart. Its pumping action is generating by inflating and deflating the balloon at certain rates.
- Fully implanted miniature artificial pumps that assist the heart are also being tested.
The risks and complications involved with many of these devices include bleeding, blood clots, and right-side heart failure. Infections are a particular hazard.
Heart Transplantation
Patients who suffer from severe heart failure and whose symptoms do not improve with drug therapy or mechanical assistance may be candidates for heart transplantation. About 2,000 heart transplant operations are performed in the United States each year, but thousands more patients wait on a list for a donor heart.
The most important factor for heart transplant eligibility is overall health. Chronological age is less important. Most heart transplant candidates are between the ages of 50 - 64 years.
While the risks of this procedure are high, about 85 - 90% of patient survive the first year after receiving a heart transplant, and about 75% survive for 5 years. Survival after 10 years is about 56 percent. In general, the highest risk factors for death 3 or more years after a transplant operation are coronary artery disease and the adverse effects (infection and certain cancers) of immunosuppressive drugs used in the procedure. .
Implantable Artificial Hearts
Artificial hearts are implantable devices that serve as replacement for the heart's failing valves. There are two types of artificial hearts. The SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is used to help sustain patients who are waiting for a heart transplant. Abiocor is a permanent implantable artificial heart. It is available only for patients who are not eligible for a heart transplant and who are not expected to live more than a month without medical treatment. Both of these devices are very expensive, require complex surgery, and only extend survival by a few months. Patients need to have a chest cavity large enough to contain the device, which excludes most women.
Lifestyle Changes
Up to half of patients hospitalized for heart failure are back in the hospital within 6 months. Many people return because of lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, failure to comply with medications, and social isolation.
Programs that offer intensive follow-up to ensure that the patient complies with lifestyle changes and medication regimens at home can reduce rehospitalization and improve survival. Patients without available rehabilitation programs should seek support from local and national heart associations and groups. A strong emotional support network is also important.
Monitoring Weight Changes
Patients should weigh themselves each morning and keep a record. Any changes are important:
- A sudden increase in weight of more than 2 - 3 pounds may indicate fluid accumulation and should prompt an immediate call to the doctor.
- Rapid wasting weight loss over a few months is a very serious sign and may indicate the need for surgical intervention.
Dietary Factors
Sodium (Salt) Restriction. All patients with heart failure should limit their sodium (salt) intake to less than than 2,300 mg a day. (Check with your doctor for exact sodium limits.) Do not add salt to cooking and meals, and avoid foods high in sodium. These salty foods include ham, bacon, hot dogs, lunch meats, prepared snack foods, dry cereal, cheese, canned soups, soy sauce, and condiments. Some patients may need to reduce the amount of water they consume. People with high cholesterol levels or diabetes require additional dietary precautions.
Here are some tips to lower your salt and sodium intake:
- Look for foods that are labeled "low-sodium," "sodium-free," "no salt added," or "unsalted." Check the total sodium content on food labels. Be especially careful of canned, packaged, and frozen foods. A nutritionist can teach you how to understand these labels.
- Don't cook with salt or add salt to what you are eating. Try pepper, garlic, lemon, or other spices for flavor instead. Be careful of packaged spice blends as these often contain salt or salt products (like monosodium glutamate, MSG).
- Avoid processed meats (particularly cured meats, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, bologna, ham, and salami).
- Avoid foods that are naturally high in sodium, like anchovies, nuts, olives, pickles, sauerkraut, soy and Worcestershire sauces, tomato and other vegetable juices, and cheese.
- Take care when eating out. Stick to steamed, grilled, baked, boiled, and broiled foods with no added salt, sauce, or cheese.
- Use oil and vinegar, rather than bottled dressings, on salads.
- Eat fresh fruit or sorbet when having dessert.
People with heart failure used to be discouraged from exercising. Now, doctors think that exercise, when performed under medical supervision, is extremely important for stable patients. Studies have reported that patients with stable conditions who engage in regular moderate exercise (three times a week) have a better quality of life and lower mortality rates than those who do not exercise. However:
- Exercise is not appropriate for all patients with heart failure. If you have heart failure, always consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.
- People who are approved for, but not used to, exercise should start with 5 - 15 minutes of easy exercise with frequent breaks. Although the goal is to build up to 30 - 45 minutes of walking, swimming, or low-impact aerobic exercises three to five times every week, even shorter times spent exercising are useful.
Studies report benefits from specific exercises:
- Progressive strength training may be particularly useful for patients with heart failure since it strengthens muscles, which commonly deteriorate in this disorder. Strength training typically uses light weights, weight machines, or even the body's weight (leg raises or sit-ups, for example). Even performing daily handgrip exercises can improve blood flow through the arteries.
- Patients who exercise regularly using supervised treadmill and stationary-bicycle exercises can increase their exercise capacity. Exercising the legs may help correct problems in heart muscles. Exercise has also been associated with reduced inflammation in blood vessels.
Bed Rest
Some people with severe heart failure need periods of bed rest. To reduce congestion in the lungs, the patient's upper body should be elevated. For most patients, resting in an armchair is better than lying in bed. Relaxing and contracting leg muscles is important to prevent clots. As the patient improves, a doctor will progressively recommend more activity.
Stress Reduction
Stress reduction techniques, such as meditation and relaxation response methods, may have direct physical benefits. Anxiety can cause the heart to work harder and beat faster.
Herbs and Supplements
Patients with heart failure may seek alternative remedies.Despite various claims, there is no strong evidence to support their effectiveness. Some herbs and dietary supplements can pose specific risks for patients with heart failure:
- Vitamin E. Vitamin E has been proposed as helpful for heart failure but studies do not back up this claim. In fact, some studies have suggested that vitamin E supplements may actually increase the risk of heart failure, especially for patients with diabetes or vascular diseases.There is no evidence that any particular vitamin can cure heart failure. In any case, vitamins are best consumed through the food sources contained in a healthy diet.
- Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance found in organ meats and soybean oil. The evidence is mixed for supporting the claim that CoQ10 is helpful for heart failure. Patients should be aware that CoQ10 can decrease blood pressure and when used with blood pressure medications may make blood pressure too low. It can also interfere with the effectiveness of warfarin.
- Fish Oil Supplements. Some research shows that a daily capsule of fish oil may help improve survival in patients with heart failure. Other research indicates fish oil supplements are ineffective. Fish oil contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a healthy kind of fat. Some, but not all, studies have suggested that fish oil supplements may not be safe for patients with implanted cardiac defibrillators.
- Ginseng. Ginseng root should be avoided by patients with high blood pressure and those who take warfarin or loop diuretics.
- Hawthorn. Hawthorn is a popular herbal remedy for treating heart failure and other heart problems, but can be dangerous for patients with these conditions. This herb interacts with many prescription medications including blood pressure drugs, digoxin, and warfarin.
- Danshen. Danshen is a root used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat heart and circulation problems. Danshen can interfere with the effectiveness of warfarin and digoxin,
- St. John's wort. St. John's wort is an herbal remedy for depression. It can interfere with the body's absorption of digoxin.
Generally, manufacturers of herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not need FDA approval to sell their products. Just like a drug, herbs and supplements can affect the body's chemistry, and therefore have the potential to produce side effects that may be harmful. There have been several reported cases of serious and even lethal side effects from herbal products. Always check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies or dietary supplements.
- www.nhlbi.nih.gov -- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- www.heart.org-- American Heart Association
- www.acc.org -- American College of Cardiology
- www.hfsa.org -- Heart Failure Society of America
- www.unos.org -- United Network for Organ Sharing
- www.organdonor.gov -- US government organ donor site
Adabag S, Roukoz H, Anand IS, Moss AJ. Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with minimal heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011 Aug 23;58(9):935-41.
Allen LA, Stevenson LW, Grady KL, Goldstein NE, Matlock DD, Arnold RM, et al. Decision Making in Advanced Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2012 Apr 17;125(15):1928-1952. Epub 2012 Mar 5.
Al-Majed NS, McAlister FA, Bakal JA, Ezekowitz JA. Meta-analysis: cardiac resynchronization therapy for patients with less symptomatic heart failure. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Mar 15;154(6):401-12. Epub 2011 Feb 14.
American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; American Nurses Association; American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; Heart Rhythm Society; Society of Hospital Medicine, et al. ACCF/AHA/AMA-PCPI 2011 performance measures for adults with heart failure: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures and the American Medical Association - Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012 May 15;59(20):1812-32. Epub 2012 Apr 23.
Dunbar SB, Dougherty CM, Sears SF, Carroll DL, Goldstein NE, Mark DB, et al. Educational and psychological interventions to improve outcomes for recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and their families: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2012 Oct 23;126(17):2146-72. Epub 2012 Sep 24.
Epstein AE, DiMarco JP, Ellenbogen KA, Estes NA 3rd, Freedman RA, Gettes LS, et al. 2012 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused update incorporated into the ACCF/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities: a report ofthe American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Jan 22;61(3):e6-75. Epub 2012 Dec 19.
Gissi-HF Investigators, Tavazzi L, Maggioni AP, Marchioli R, Barlera S, Franzosi MG, et al. Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2008 Oct 4;372(9645):1223-30. Epub 2008 Aug 29.
Greenberg B and Kahn AM. Clinical assessment of heart failure. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Saunders; 2011:chap 26.
Haykowsky MJ, Liang Y, Pechter D, Jones LW, McAlister FA, Clark AM. A meta-analysis of the effect of exercise training on left ventricular remodeling in heart failure patients: the benefit depends on the type of training performed. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007 Jun 19;49(24):2329-36. Epub 2007 Jun 4.
Heart Failure Society of America, Lindenfeld J, Albert NM, Boehmer JP, Collins SP, Ezekowitz JA, et al. HFSA 2010 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline. J Card Fail. 2010 Jun;16(6):e1-194.
Hildebrandt P. Systolic and nonsystolic heart failure: equally serious threats. JAMA. 2006 Nov 8;296(18):2259-60.
Mann DL. Pathophysiology of heart failure. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Saunders; 2011:chap 25.
O'Connor CM, Starling RC, Hernandez AF, Armstrong PW, Dickstein K, Hasselblad V, et al. Effect of nesiritide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jul 7;365(1):32-43.
Peura JL, Colvin-Adams M, Francis GS, Grady KL, Hoffman TM, Jessup M, et al. Recommendations for the use of mechanical circulatory support: device strategiesand patient selection: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2012 Nov 27;126(22):2648-67. Epub 2012 Oct 29.
Risk and Prevention Study Collaborative Group, Roncaglioni MC, Tombesi M, Avanzini F, Barlera S, Caimi V, et al. n-3 fatty acids in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. N Engl J Med. 2013 May 9;368(19):1800-8.
Schocken DD, Benjamin EJ, Fonarow GC, Krumholz HM, Levy D, Mensah GA, et al. Prevention of heart failure: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Councils on Epidemiology and Prevention, Clinical Cardiology, Cardiovascular Nursing, and High Blood Pressure Research; Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group; and Functional Genomics and Translational Biology Interdisciplinary Working Group. Circulation. 2008 May 13;117(19):2544-65. Epub 2008 Apr 7.
Tachjian A, Maria V, Jahangir A. Use of herbal products and potential interactions in patients with cardiovascular diseases. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010 Feb 9;55(6):515-25.
Advanced Studyec
Related Informationec
Review Date: 6/27/2013�
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.


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Macrium Reflect 4.2.2952
* New option to add comments to Images and file backups.
- Comments can be added by clicking the 'Advanced' button in the backup Wizard. Comments are shown as tooltips when selecting backups in the browse, verify and restore dialogs. See the help file for more information. This includes an update to the Linux rescue CD to show image file comments.
* Allow volume mount points as an image destination
- You can now select a volume mount point as the destination of an image file even if the path to the mount point is a sub-folder of the image being created.
* ReDeploy - Improved .inf file parsing
- Faster scanning of .inf files when using Macrium ReDeploy. Macrium ReDeploy is provieded with the Macrium Reflect Addtiions add-on, and enables restoration on Windows to dissimilar hardware.
* File and folder backup. Exclude hidden and system files is no-longer the default option.
- The default option when creating a new file and folder backup is now to include hidden and system files.
* Improved memory management for File and Folder backups
- Macrium Reflect uses less memory during file and folder backups. This prevents low memory issues when backing up large numbers (millions) of files and folders.
* Windows PE rescue CD update is available.
- Please click the 'Updates' button in the Rescue CD burn wizard for more information.
# Bug fixes:
* Fixed problem with slow network enumeration
- Macrium Reflect could become slow or unresponsive when navigation network shares for a backup destination. This has been ersolved.
* Fixed problem with network based incremental file and folder backups when the root backup folder is offline.
- Network incremental file and folder backups could cause an incremental backup to record the deletion of a folder if the root source folder was not available on a network share. The backup will now aborrt with a network error.
* Fixed problem with mounting differentials from the command line
- Using the command line option to mount a differential image could cause the full image to be mounted as well as the differential. This has been resolved.

subset: commoncrawl


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GEBRÜDER JEHMLICH GMBH - Industrial Milling and Crushing Solutions
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text:
Honoring JIM JONES as a recipient of the "2013 Outstanding Advocate for Science & Technology Award" presented by the Science Museum of Long Island, February 6th, 6pm to 8pm, at Westbury Manor
Science Museum of Long Island
Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 6:00 PM (EST)
Event Details
Recipient, "2013 Outstanding Advocate for Science & Technology Award"
The Science Museum of Long Island recently named Jim Jones as a recipient of a 2013 OUTSTANDING ADVOCATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AWARD. Jim will be honored on Wednesday, February 6th at the Westbury Manor for his outstanding contributions toward the advancement and education of science and technology.
Please help support Jim in his goal to raise a minimum of $1,000 for this important fundraiser.
Proceeds support the Science Museum of Long Island's programs and services for the children and families of the region!
A summary of Jim's impressive list of accomplishments:
After graduating college, Jim was fortunate enough to be hired as a full time science teacher in the Port Washington School District. It was a relationship that would last for 34 years, until he retired in 2007.
Jim started out in his career in the middle school (Weber Jr. High; "a great place to begin for a young teacher") and then moved to the high school (P.D. Schreiber) when it became a four year institution. Both schools had their own special appeal. Jim still remembers, while at Weber, when he was finally able to acquire a new telescope and begin 'star-gazing parties' in the evenings. "They were a hit with the kids and their parents."
At Schreiber, Jim was able to develop the genetics and zoology electives. "We were one of the first schools to participate in the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Curriculum Study Project, and our genetics students were soon performing genetic engineering experiments and learning about the wonders of DNA"
In zoology, Jim's students assisted him in building, and installing osprey nesting platforms all around Hempstead Harbor and Manhasset Bay. They also built great horned owl nesting cones which they installed at Bethpage State Park with the aid of a bucket truck.
One of Jim's fondest memories was when a group of very dedicated kids asked him to be the advisor for an environmental club, 'Treehuggers.' Together they did some wonderful things around the school and in the community at large.
Since retiring, Jim spends a good deal of time observing, and defending, nature. He continues his at one time volunteer work as a raptor researcher at Bethpage State Park where Jim is now a part-time employee. There is studies of the great horned owls and red-tailed hawks continue to provide Jim with rare glimpses into the lives of these great raptors.
Jim spends the greater amount of time working as an educational program presenter and board member for Volunteers for Wildlife, a non-profit wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and education organization located at Bailey Arboretum in Lattingtown. Jims involvement in educational programs for Volunteers feeds his continued need to teach. "There is almost nothing as rewarding and enjoyable as standing in front of an audience with a raptor on my arm and talking about the wonders of the natural world. Additionally, I get a deep sense of satisfaction when rescuing an injured, sick or displaced creature and helping it return to the wild. Nature needs defenders," explained Jim.
Jim is also currently trying to get his second book published. Possible titles are, 'For the Birds, My Life as The Birdman of Bethpage', and 'A Passion for Raptors'. "There have been so many experiences, covering the entire range of human emotions that I think that people will enjoy reading about them," Jim said about his book.
The inaugural ADVOCATES FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AWARDS takes place on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 6pm to 8pm, at Westbury Manor. To register or for more information, call Tracey Gittere at (516) 222-0550 or email@example.com
When & Where
Westbury Manor
1100 Jericho Turnpike
Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 6:00 PM (EST)
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Science Museum of Long Island
Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in 1963, SMLI is a not-for-profit science activity center located in Plandome on the Leeds Pond Preserve in Nassau County. The Science Museum offers enrichment workshops for children on weekdays and during school vacations. SMLI provides teachers and community leaders with field trips as well as programs that can be brought onsite to field locations. Activities at the Science Museum are typically pre-registered hands-on science workshops.


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|Version 19 (modified by benl, 7 years ago)
Regression Testing
The war test driver automates regression testing.
$ make war
$ bin/war test
This tool descends into the given directory, and runs any tests it finds.
- For subdirectories containing a Main.ds file, it builds and executes that program. The resulting binary is named Main.bin and placed in the same directory as the source. If there is also a Main.stdout file, then checks the program's output against this expected output. If there is any difference it prompts the user whether to stop testing, or update the expected output.
- For subdirectories that do not contain a Main.ds, it simply compiles all the source files there.
- If a subdirectory contains a Module.error.check file, where Module is some arbitrary module name, then compilation is expected to fail with the error message given by that check file.
The programs in test/93-Graphics can open up X windows and display pretty pictures. When run with no arguments they dump their final frame as a PPM image to stdout. When run with "-x" they open up an X window an display the animation in real-time.
$ bin/war test/93-Graphics +compway opt -O $ test/93-Graphics/Styrene/Main.bin -x
You can also compile and run demos individually with something like:
$ bin/ddc -O -make demo/Graphics/Styrene/Main.ds -o styrene $ ./styrene -x
Note that DDC's -make flag will rebuild any module needed by the program being compiled, including modules in the base libraries. This can be useful when working on the libraries, or on DDC's -make support.
For example, we can clean out all the binaries in the library, test and demo directories with:
$ make cleanWar
We can then rebuild the whole styrene program with:
$ bin/ddc -O -make demo/Graphics/Styrene/Main.ds -o styrene


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Welcome to Sears Home Appliance Showroom in Houston, Texas
We are your local home appliance showroom selling home appliances, including refrigerators, ovens and washers & dryers. Sears Home Appliance Showroom is a part of Sears' appliance store business developed to serve our customers in modern shopping districts with other major retailers. With more than 70 home appliance stores across the United States, we serve many areas, including Houston.
Sears Home Appliance Showroom in Houston, Texas is the premier destination for major appliances including washers, dryers, freezers, dishwashers, ranges, stoves and more! Shop ourvast inventory of top name brand appliances and consult with our knowledgeable staff for guidance on your next purchase. So come by and get to know us!
Sears Home Appliance Showroom in Houston offers the widest selection of major appliances from national brands all in a pristine full-service showroom designed to help you select, and enjoy your next purchase with ease and peace of mind.
Our showrooms are designed with the consumer in mind. Offering the widest selection of major appliances from national brands in Houston, buying your next appliance has never been easier!


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[Date Index]
[Thread Index]
[Author Index]
Re: Evaluating integral with varying upper limit?
Try setting your AccuracyGoal and PrecisionGoal (and view the
definitions thereof if this is your first time using them ). You may
also want to enable arbitrary WorkingPrecision if you have high
Precision inputs (or exact inputs).
On 11/6/06, AES <siegman at stanford.edu> wrote:
> Given a function f[x] which happens to be rather messy and not
> analytically integrable, I want to evaluate the function
> g[y_] := NIntegrate[f[x], {x, ymin, y} ]
> with ymin fixed and ymin < y < Infinity.
> I suppose that FunctionInterpolate is the way to go here (???).
> But, are there tricks to tell FunctionInterpolate what I know in
> advance, namely that f[x] is everywhere positive, and decreases toward
> zero rapidly enough at large x that g[y] will approach a finite limiting
> value as y -> Infinity? (which value I'd like to have FI obtain with
> moderate accuracy -- meaning 3 or 4 significant digits, not 10 or 20)
> Thanks . . .


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Does LeBron belong on the all-time top 10 list?
Published June 3, 2014
Many people claim LeBron James is one of the top 10 to ever play the game. Some people put him in the top five. Which, of course, got me to thinking: who are my top 10 basketball players of all-time and does James make the list?


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Zang van de vampiers, De (142 items)
Welcome back! Whilst you were away we added the functionality to view auctions and bid in pounds.
Zang van de vampiers, De: Information on the Catawiki site about Experimenten , 2000.
At its heart, Catawiki is an online catalogue with images of, and information on, collectibles. Our catalogue is compiled by users in a similar way to Wikipedia.


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Results 1 to 3 of 3
Thread: Finally took the plunge...
- Join Date
- May 2013
- Location
- Osburn,Idaho-soon to move Salt lake
- Posts
- 15
Finally took the plunge...
...and did my first 3d shoot yesterday! (I actually found out about it on the schedule here.)
The good news;I'm hooked.The bad news;this hobby might cost me a bit in lost arrows:-)
A couple of friendly club members offered to walk the course with me after I mentioned it was my first shoot,and that I had not shot over 30 yards yet.One brought along a range finder since I wasn't actually competing.As luck would have it,my first 6 shots were 8's and these guys were impressed.Then I started losing my mojo and getting the occasional nervous twitch which cost one lost arrow at 50 yards and one at 40 yards(each flew maybe an inch or two above their targets).After I did two out of the four loops(20 targets out of 40) I thought I would call it good with just three arrows left,and head over to the practice range to get sighted in better at 40 and 50.I know,I should have done the practice range first but didn't want to give up the opportunity to do the course with such knowledgable and helpful folks.It's also worth a chuckle that I showed up with only five arrows as I started this on a strict budget.So,back at the practice range I lost another at 50 yards,again just missing the burlap target(a backdrop of some kind would have been nice as the arrows penetrate the grass,brush,moss and topsoil with little resistance)So,now down to two arrows I go for broke and shoot at 50 again and hit the metal post supporting the target(again,maybe wood instead of metal posts would be nice)Needless to say that one shattered,but I kept the squashed tip as a memento ;-)But I'm not done yet hehe.With one arrow left,I go for broke and figure the two close misses were enough reference to adjust the sight a third time for 50, as I was hitting 40 pretty well (with an incredibly tight one arrow grouping ;-))
Well it worked, and I got some more exercise jogging back and forth with my one arrow a few more times at 50 yards.Who knew this sport would have such cardiovascular benefits ?
So,since I had made a sale on ebay the other day for about the same amount as a dozen Cabella's Carbon Hunters,I took a short detour to the Post Falls store and picked them up on my way home.Now I'm ready and raring to go for the next shoot!
Last edited by stevepro65; 06-10-2013 at 09:52 PM.
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Posts
- 14
Ha I had similar issues. Out the new sight on my bow and the first arrow went a quarter way through a 2x4 no gettin that one back. Where I shoot we have hay bails as backstops. I lost a arrow that went clean through. Luckily I bought a dozen to start with. The cabelas carbon fibers are the same I shoot with. They have them on sale for Father's Day. I gotta get more. Something to look into
Glad you gave it a try and had fun. Its an addicting sport. The first shoot I went to 25yrs ago I started with 6 aluminum arrows that were straight, went home with one bent one. Still loose or break at least 2 or 3 a season out of 24 shoots we go to a year.............
Similar Threads
Finally!!!By BuckeyeRed in forum General Archery ForumReplies: 13Last Post: 05-12-2010, 10:47 PM
FinallyBy Radar in forum General Archery ForumReplies: 7Last Post: 01-27-2010, 09:06 AM
took the plungeBy skydog in forum General Archery ForumReplies: 4Last Post: 08-05-2009, 09:12 AM
Finally got to go.By duckslayer870 in forum Bowhunting forumReplies: 2Last Post: 10-18-2008, 09:09 AM
i took the plungeBy upnorth in forum General Archery ForumReplies: 16Last Post: 05-31-2008, 03:35 PM


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Adaptable orchids use epigenetics, according to ScienceDaily, 10 Aug 2010 and Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2010; DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msq150. Scientists at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew's Jodrell Laboratory are studying the effects of epigenetics in orchids to see how they may adapt to environmental changes. Epigenetics refers to changes in the way genes are expressed. These changes can be brought on by environmental influences and can enable plants of the same species to grow in different environments. The Royal Botanic Garden scientists are studying three recently formed 'hybrid' species of European marsh-orchids (Dactylorhiza). The plants are very similar in genetic heritage but "differ considerably in ecological requirements, morphology, physical characteristics and distribution." Epigenetic changes do not alter the DNA code of the genes, but the effects can be inherited. The researchers claim epigenetic changes could enable plants to evolve rapidly without having to wait for mutations to change the structure and function of the plants, as traditional evolutionary theory says. The researchers wrote: "Our results strongly suggest a need to expand our current evolutionary framework to encompass a complementary epigenetic dimension when seeking to understand population processes that drive phenotypic evolution and adaptation."
Link: ScienceDaily


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Hi, sorry I missed these posts earlier,
have a look here, it should help
@ _arc_
I wrote that it works but without injection.
Problem about injection I wrote in BT4 non-working forum.
I can confirm that out of the box works only monutoring(airodump-ng)
Injection DOESN wokr.
How didi you manage to enable injection?
Tanks in advance.@_arc_
Did it work out of the box, or did you have to tweak the system in some way that apparently many of us are missing?


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Molly Mutt Stuff Sack
- Overview
Reuse + recycle. Fill this Stuff Sack with old clothes, blankets, pillows or other padding, then cover it with a Molly Mutt Duvet for an instantly eco-friendly dog bed. The 100% nylon sack is machine washable, so you can clean it and its contents all at once.
- Dog bed duvet stuffer.
- 100% nylon.
- Machine wash.
- Imported.
- Details + Dimensions
- Smalll: 22"w x 27"d x 1.5"h.
- Medium: 27"w x 36"d x 1.5"h.
- Large: 36"w x 15"d x 1.5"h.
Machine wash.
- Shipping + Return Info
These items ship from our Distribution Center by UPS and arrive in your home within 4-5 business days of order receipt.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping options. View Shipping Rates and Options
Next Day Delivery
For an extra charge of $17.50 per address, we can arrange for rush delivery to most destinations.
We happily accept returns on stocked items within the time frames listed below. Products designated as special order (SPO) cannot be cancled or returned. All items on our website and in-store are considered 'stocked' unless expressly identified as 'special order' instead. Prior purchases are not eligible for price adjustments. Please familiarize yourself with our returns policy before placing your order.
Stocked Items: If you are dissatisfied with your purchase of a stocked item, you must exchange or return it within the following time frames for a full refund of the merchandise cost (delivery fees are non-refundable). Outside these time frames, we will replace or refund your purchase against manufacturer's defects ONLY. Please note that we cannot accept returns on gift cards or items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items, which are identified by a price ending in .99 or .97.
- Quick Ship upholstery items must be returned within 7 days of the order receipt date.
- All other stocked products must be returned within 30 days of the order receipt date.
Special Order Items (SPO): Because they're custom made to your specifications, special order items may not be canceled or returned and are exchangeable against manufacturer's defects ONLY. SPO includes special order upholstery items, monogrammed/personalized items, special order rugs, one-of-a kind rugs and any products being shipped directly from a third-party vendor. Any special order items will be flagged as 'special order' in your shopping cart. NEW JERSEY CUSTOMERS: Special-order upholstered furniture returns are subject to applicable state law and are non-returnable after 24 hours of delivery.
For further assistance please call our customer service department at 1.888.922.4119 or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com


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Prophets possess the attribute of being instrumental in people's guidance. They lead them to guidance through the miracles and marvels bestowed on them by Allah and their spiritual depth and states revealing the strength of their faith. Like the prophets, the mujaddids and mujtahids who have lived during the course of history have also possessed the attribute of leading people to guidance. One such individual is Bediüzzaman Said Nursi. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will possess the same spiritual state and qualities. The name "Hazrat Mahdi" means "he who leads to guidance." Allah's title of "Hadi," meaning "He Who bestows guidance, He Who leads to the true path," will be powerfully manifested in Hazrat Mahdi (as). Hazrat Mahdi (as) will embody the fertility of Allah's title of "Hadi," or "He Who leads to guidance," and it is revealed in the hadiths that he will lead all people to guidance in the End Times in which we are living:
Hazrat Mahdi (as) WILL TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH A TORCH OF GUIDANCE AND WILL LIVE LIKE THE CHASTE. (Al-Mahdi al-Maw'ud, Vol. 1, pp. 281-282 and 266 and 300)
After reading all his famous poems when he was with Imam Reza (as), Di'bal said:
"Hazrat Mahdi (as) will definitely appear: He will appear with Allah's name and bounty. [In other words, the coming of the imam is certain.] He will come with Allah's name and bounty. (Yanabee'-al-Mawadda, Vol. 2, p. 197)
HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL COME AFTER LOVE OF ALLAH BECOMES LOVE OF LOWER SELVES, AND HE WILL TURN LOVE OF LOWER SELVES INTO LOVE OF ALLAH; HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL COME AFTER THE QUR'AN HAS BEEN FORCED TO MATCH OPINIONS AND IDEAS, AND WILL MAKE OPINIONS AND IDEAS TO MATCH THE QUR'AN.... (Nahj al-Balaghah, Fayz al-Islam edition, pp. 424, 425)
A great many scholars and teachers in the End Times will adopt an attitude aimed at maintaining people's existing situations. Some will like only their own ideas and opinions and adopt a language that merely criticized Muslims and does nothing to show them the truth. But Hazrat Mahdi (as) will not preserve people's existing situations; he will be instrumental in their guidance. Allah will manifest His title of Hadi in him in the most intense form and make him His instrument in even Darwinists, atheists, materialists and the irreligious coming to believe.
Bediuzzaman also described this superior aspect of Hazrat Mahdi (as) and listed one by the one the qualities that he will possess. He referred to him as both a ruler, the Mahdi, a saintly figure, a mujaddid and a qutb-al azam, and discussed his knowledge and spiritual strength. He said that Hazrat Mahdi (as) would embody each of these attributes in the most perfect manner. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will discharge his duties as ruler, the Mahdi, being instrumental in people's guidance, being a saintly figure and a mujtahid separately and one by one:
Since His custom has proceeded in this way, certainly, at the time of the greatest corruption at the end of time, He will send a mujtahid, a mujaddid [reviver], and a judge, and ruler, and a Mahdi, and a guide to the true path, and a Qutb al-Azam [a great saint to whom Muslims adhere], and A RADIANT INDIVIDUAL, and THAT PERSON will be from the Family of the Prophet (saas). Almighty Allah, Who fills and empties the world between the heavens and earth with clouds, and in an instant stills the storms of the sea, and in an hour in spring creates samples of the summer and in an hour in summer creates a winter storm, such an ALL-POWERFUL ONE OF GLORY CAN ALSO SCATTER THE DARKNESS OF THE WORLD OF ISLAM BY MEANS OF HAZRAT MAHDI (AS). HE HAS PROMISED THIS, AND CERTAINLY HE WILL CARRY OUT HIS PROMISE (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Letters / Twenty-Ninth Letter - Seventh Section, p. 514-515)
In the above extract Bediuzzaman says that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will "scatter the darkness of the world of Islam." By that he refers to Hazrat Mahdi's (as) struggle against the antichrist and that he will inevitably emerge victorious from it. The struggle against the system of the antichrist will be one of Hazrat Mahdi (as) most important characteristics. The great majority of Islamic scholars and teachers in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (as) will lack that quality. The majority of these people will be unable to identify the system of the Mahdi or to campaign against it. The main general distinguishing feature of most scholars and teachers other than Hazrat Mahdi is that they merely assume the task of describing the religion in he End Times but are not involved in the struggle. But Hazrat Mahdi (as) will accurately identify the system of the Mahdi and, as a result of his great intellectual struggle, will literally neutralize the antichrist and be instrumental in people's attaining guidance.
One of the distinguishing features of Hazrat Mahdi (as) is his determination. This will immediately become apparent through the hardships he undergoes, his imprisonment and his campaign against the system of the antichrist.The hadiths describe how Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be subjected to the same slanders as the prophets and, like them, will be subjected to accusations of madness, seeking his own advantage and sexual impropriety:
In Abu Said Al-Khudri's account, the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: When the antichrist appears, a man [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] from among the believers will oppose him. MANY PEOPLE CARRYING ARMS, PEOPLE BEARING ARMS IN THE CENTERS OF SURVEILLANCE OF THE ANTICHRIST, WILL MOVE AGAINST THAT BELIEVER. (Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, Mehdilik ve Imamiye [The System of the Mahdi and Imamate], 37; Sahih Muslim, 11/393)
Imam Zayn al-Abidin said: "THERE WILL BE MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OUR QAIM [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] AND THE MESSENGERS OF ALLAH. HE FULLY MATCHES EACH ONE OF THE PROPHETS NOAH (AS), ABRAHAM (AS), MOSES (AS), JESUS (AS), JOB (AS) AND MUHAMMAD (SAAS). He resembles the Prophet Noah (as) in being long-lived; the Prophet Abraham (as) in the secrecy of his birth and his keeping away from people; the Prophet Moses (as) in his state of fear [intensity of the dangers facing Hazrat Mahdi (as) and his facing such threats as being killed, traps, arrest, detention and exile] and his living in constant hiding; the Prophet Jesus (as) in people falling into dispute regarding him [as some people say, 'Hazrat Mahdi (as) will come' and others say, 'He will not come.']; the Prophet Job (as) in finally being saved after tribulations [Hazrat Mahdi (as) will suffer many difficulties, sickness and woes but, like the Prophet Job (as), he will escape them all through Allah's mercy] and the Prophet Muhammad (saas) in appearing with a sword [Hazrat Mahdi possessing the sacred relics of our Prophet's (saas) holy standard, sword and shirt]." (Sheikh al-Saduq, Kamal al-Din, p. 322, 31st ch., 3rd hadith)
... We are such a household that, for us, Allah preferred the Hereafter over this world. After me, my Ahl al-Bayt will surely be subjected to trouble, abduction and banishment. After me, my Ahl al-Bayt will meet trouble and torment, and be subjected to expulsion. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 14)
From Abdurrahman ibn Salid; Imam Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib narrated "... IT IS HE [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] WHO WILL APPEAR WITH THE TRUTH. ALLAH WILL BRING THE EARTH BACK TO LIFE, BY MEANS OF HIM, AFTER IT HAS DIED, AND ALLAH WILL MAKE HIS RELIGION VICTORIOUS OVER ALL OTHER RELIGIONS, WHETHER THE IDOLATERS WISH IT OR NOT... THEY WILL BE OPPRESSED AND TOLD, "IF YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH, WHEN WILL THIS PROMISE BE MADE GOOD?" Know that, DISPLAYING FORTITUDE IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION AND WOES DURING HIS OCCULTATION IS LIKE STRUGGLING WITH THE SWORD (KNOWLEDGE) ALONGSIDE THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SAAS)." (Ibn Qutaybah, Uyun al-akhbar, vol. 1, p. 68)


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N'Joy Budapest Hostel and Apartment
N'Joy hostel was founded by a family that was born and raised in Budapest. Our number one goal is to guide our guests in every aspect of their stay, so they can make the most of the authenticity of the city, and they can continue their trip with a unique experience. For these reasons the hostel is run in a traditional downtown apartment house, in a four-room home. If you are looking for a place during your busy journey, with relaxing atmosphere, where the staff is known from its cordiality, you will feel right at home with us.
Forget all the bunk beds, the crowded 12 bed dormitories, the cold showers and the hot plates. Our sunny, colorful rooms custom designed attics ensure your privacy and being together at the same time. You will be able to refresh yourself in our brand-new bathrooms and have a cup of hot coffee in our fully equipped kitchen to get ready for your adventures while discovering the city. And when you get home after a day of fun, your comfortable bed and all the amenities of N'Joy is waiting for you.
Have had too much restaurant food? We cook a free traditional Hungarian dinner on pre-organized nights. After whether you choose your individually-tailored pub crawl or ours, we have surprises for you.
Tasting food is always a good experience but learning to make it with locals and then sharing at home is even better, so why not to join our do-it-yourself Cooking Lesson.
Whether your stay is for business or pleasure, our apartment will create a sense of relaxation as if you were in your own home.
The apartment is individually styled and decorated. Clean, comfortable and modern. Very well equipped; offering dining area, bathroom, with laundry facilities, as well as access to free Wi-Fi. Our apartment is an affordable alternative to hotel style accommodation.
Spend a whole day at the biggest lake in Middle Europe, SAIL AT LAKE BALATON with organised guiding!
Take part in our FREE COMMON PROGRAMS EVERY DAY, or sign up for one of the numerous guided tours. After a busy day drink FREE COFFEE OR TEA, watch DVD, or simply relax in our colorful, shiny rooms. Enjoy the famous nightlife of the district with various pubs, discos, nightclubs, underground places.
We are able to get group booking for special discounts.
Keep the contact with persons stayed at home via FREE INTERNET and make them jealous with your fancy experiences!
We have different kind of rooms from the private double room till the 7 bed dormitory.
All the rooms have security FREE LOCKERS, comfy beds.
Towels and linen is included.
We have computers with free internet in the common room and wifi in all the rooms.
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hostel Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Reception
- 24 Hour Security
- Adaptors
- Airport Transfers
- Board Games
- Book Exchange
- Breakfast Not Included
- Cable TV
- Common Room
- Credit Cards Not Accepted
- DVDs
- Free City Maps
- Hair Dryers For Hire
- Internet Access
- Self-Catering Facilities
- Security Lockers
- No Curfew
- Non Smoking
- Shuttle Bus
- Taxes included
- Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
- Towels For Hire
- Towels Included
- Washing Machine
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 1 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
1. FROM AIRPORT- LISZT FERENC 2 (50 min)
Take bus nr. 200 to Kőbánya Kispest metro station. Take metro3 (blue line) to 'Deák Ferenc tér' metro station.
Change the line, take metro2 (red line) to 'Astoria' metro station. (1 stop)
Go about 100 meters on Rákóczi street till number 9.
2. FROM NYUGATI TRAIN STATION (15 min)
Take metro3 (blue line) to 'Deák Ferenc tér'(2 stops).
Change the line, take metro2 (red line) to 'Astoria' metro station. (1 stop)
Go about 100 meters on Rákóczi street till number 9.
3. FROM KELETI TRAIN STATION (20 min)
Take the metro2 (red line) to 'Astoria' metro station.
Go about 100 meters on Rákóczi street till number 9.
4. FROM NÉPLIGET BUS STATION (25 min)
Take metro3 (blue line) to 'Deák Ferenc tér' metro station.
Change the line, take metro2 (red line) to 'Astoria' metro station. (1 stop)
Go about 100 meters on Rákóczi street till number 9.
On street parking available 8pm-8am Monday - Saturday and all day Sunday (all other times parking is metered with a maximum 3hr stay).
Located Near
N'joy Budapest hostel is in the VERY DOWNTOWN, walking distance from the most important places.
In five minutes you can reach:
- BUS nr.:5, 7, 9, 109, 173
- NIGHT BUSES nr.: 907, 909, 966, 979
- Astoria metro station
The district is full with pubs, restaurants, non-stop shops and places to hang on, the only problem will be how to select:)
Margaret Island
Main shopping street- Váci utca
Hero's Square