Cardiotonics

Cardiotonics are usually prescribed in congestive heart failure (CHF). Heart inability to pump sufficient blood to fulfil body demand is called congestive heart failure. CHF occurs due to following reasons:

1.       Abnormal increase in blood volume. Increase in blood flow resistance in blood vessels. Thus blood vessel cannot accommodate full volume of blood. There will be congestion in blood flow. This induce problem in heart working. Therefore it is called congestive heart failure.

2.       Decrease in cardiac muscle contraction force. Thus heart is unable to force sufficient blood. CHF can be treated by using  Cardiotonic (Digitoxin and digoxin.) to increase force of cardiac muscle contraction, Diuretics to increase water excretion. That will decrease blood volume and Vasodilators  to dilate blood vessels that will relieve blood congestion in blood vessels and diuretics to decrease blood volume. All these produce systematic relief. They will not cure pathogenic condition that causes CHF symptoms.