Summary

Congestive heart failure is a prevalent disease with high morbidity and mortality rates, due mainly to myocardial dysfunction progression. The treatment is aimed to prolongation of survival and improvement in symptoms. Possible reversible causes of myocardial dysfunction should be searched for and treated whenever possible. Non-pharmacological management of heart failure including low salt diet, and improvement on nutritional status and exercise training have a definite role in reducing morbidity and improving quality of life. Improvement in symptoms can be achieved with a variety of drugs, including diuretics, digitalis, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers and beta blockers. Better survival rates have been documented with beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and espironolactone