Treatment of congestive heart failure with effective diuretics provides immediate relief of symptoms, but the underlying mechanism is an irreversible process leading to eventual recurrence.
The text highlights the progressive nature of congestive heart failure and cautions against the misconception of cure following initial symptomatic relief with diuretics.
The immediate results of the treatment of congestive heart failure due to any cause often are very gratifying. This is especially true of the first break in cardiac compensation. Indeed, the ease with which an edematous patient may be rendered fluid free and the ease with which he is relieved of distressing symptoms by the appropriate use of effective diuretics may lead the patient readily into the mistaken belief that his disease has been cured and that presently he will be able to return to his former mode of living. As the mechanism responsible for congestive heart failure is in most cases an irreversible process with a strong potentiality to progression, it can be assumed safely that cardiac decompensation will recur sooner or later—certainly sooner rather than later if the patient is allowed to foster his conviction of having been restored to normal health by the treatment which has been
Thomas J. Dry (Sat,) conducted a other in Congestive heart failure. Diuretics was evaluated. Treatment of congestive heart failure with effective diuretics provides immediate relief of symptoms, but the underlying mechanism is an irreversible process leading to eventual recurrence.