Congestive Heart Failure

Overview

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the inability of the Heart to effectively pump Blood and maintain Blood Circulation, resulting in breathlessness, fatigue, edema and congestion in the body’s tissues. 

 Congestive Heart Failure is a difficult condition to treat because the heart progressively deteriorates - the five year survival rate is less than 50%.

 Congestive Heart Failure is the fourth leading cause of hospitalization in Western nations.

Alkaloids

 Berberine may improve the condition of Congestive Heart Failure patients.  ^[1]

Amino Acids

 Arginine (5,600 - 12,600 mg per day) may significantly increases stroke volume and cardiac output (without effect on heartbeat rate) in Congestive Heart Failure patients.  It may also increase (leading to increased Blood Circulation) in Congestive Heart Failure patients.  ^[2]

 Carnitine (2,000 mg per day) can improve the condition of Congestive Heart Failure patients.

 Carnitine may lower heartbeat rate, reduce fluid accumulation and improve breathing ability in CHF patients:  ^[3]

 Propionyl-L-Carnitine (500 - 2,000 mg per day) can improve the function of the Heart in Congestive Heart Failure patients and may increase the ability CHF patients to undertake Exercise.  ^[4]

 Creatine ^[5]  (or Creatine Monohydrate  ^[6]) may be of benefit to Congestive Heart Failure patients as CHF patients often have intracellular Creatine levels that are approximately 20% lower than normal and supplementary Creatine (20 grams per day) may help to restore normal Creatine levels to CHF patients.

 Ethylene-Diamine-Tetra-Acetate (EDTA) - the synthetic Amino Acid used in Chelation Therapy – may be an effective therapy for Congestive Heart Failure. 

 Taurine (1,000 - 4,000 mg per day) may improve cardiac and respiratory function in Congestive Heart Failure patients.  ^[7]

Carbohydrates

 Ribose may increase Energy production in the Cardiac Muscle of Congestive Heart Failure patients.  ^[8]

Growth Factors

 Exogenous, recombinant Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) may cause a reduction in afterload and may cause positive contraction effects in Congestive Heart Failure patients.  ^[9]

Hormones

 Supplemental (exogenous) Human Growth Hormone (hGH) may increase Cardiac Muscle strength in Congestive Heart Failure patients.  ^[10]