Introduction

Figure 19.1 The heart is the primary organ of the cardiovascular system, controlling circulation and blood flow for the entire body. (attribution: Copyright Rice University, OpenStax, under CC BY 4.0 license)

Chapter Outline

19.1 Heart Failure

19.2 Drugs Affecting the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System

19.3 Beta-Adrenergic Blockers

19.4 Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2Is)

19.5 Diuretics

19.6 Adjunct Medications Used in Heart Failure

Heart failure is a complex syndrome that occurs when the heart is no longer able to generate adequate cardiac output. Anything that affects left ventricular filling or pumping can lead to heart failure, and it is often the result of prolonged untreated hypertension or acute myocardial infarction. This chapter will review heart failure and the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for this syndrome.