Congestive heart failure is where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body. It kills many people every year. A variety of medicines has been developed to treat it, but more are still needed. Many approaches are being explored and trials are underway with a variety of new treatments that may help people live longer and with a better quality of life.
Disease: Congestive Heart Failure
Last update: June 2008
Intro
FAQ: What can be done about it?
A variety of drugs have been developed over the years. Current treatment includes the use of diuretics (agents which increase water loss in the urine) and agents called ACE inhibitors (originally developed to treat high blood pressure). These may be combined with a low dose of a drug called a beta-blocker. Despite encouraging results, many people still die from CHF and there is a need for better therapies.