The heart and the kidney are vital organs in the body. A healthy heart and kidney are crucial for our body and mind to function effectively.
Both these organs work in coordination with the other.
The functioning of one affects the other. A disruption in the working of the heart diminishes the functioning of the kidney.
In the same context, when the kidney functioning is affected heart does not work to the fullest.
Key Takeaways
- CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, while Kidney Failure is when the kidneys cannot filter waste products from the blood.
- Various factors, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, cause CHF. In contrast, various factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain medications, can cause Kidney Failure.
- The symptoms of CHF include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs, while the symptoms of Kidney Failure include fatigue, nausea, and swelling in the legs and ankles.
CHF vs Kidney Failure
The difference between CHF and kidney failure is that CHF is Congestive Heart Failure. Kidney failure occurs when the kidney’s ability to filter toxins from the blood gets affected.
CHF is Congestive Heart Failure which impacts the stimulation of the heart. The ventricles transport the blood to the organs and tissues.
CHF develops when the ventricles fail to pump sufficient blood to the organs. It causes the fluids and blood to accumulate in other vital organs.
Kidneys are a pair of organs located on both sides of the spinal cord. The function of the kidney is to remove toxins from the blood.
The toxins get washed out through urination. The failure of the kidney occurs when it loses the power to strain excess waste from the blood.
Many elements affect the work performed by a healthy kidney.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | CHF | Kidney Failure |
|---|---|---|
| Organs | It affects the heart. | It affects the functioning of the Kidney. |
| Symptoms | Cough due to congested lungs and irregular heartbeats. | Swelling due to water retention and decreased urine. |
| Number of Stages | Four stages | Five stages |
| Remedy | Medication and lifestyle change. | Dialysis or transplant. |
| After Effects | You can get Kidney failure. | The functioning of the heart is affected. |
What is CHF?
CHF is a chronic condition affecting the heart muscle’s pumping power. CHF is the stage where a buildup of fluid causes the heart to pump inefficiently.
There are four chambers in the heart. The upper part of the heart has two atria, and the lower part has two ventricles.
The ventricles pump blood into the body’s tissue and organs. The atrium is a receiving agent, and it receives blood from the rest of the body.
CHF develops when ventricles pump less than usual, and the blood and other fluids accumulate lungs, abdomen, liver, and lower body.
The types of CHF based on the effects are as follows:
- Right-sided heart failure: The heart finds it difficult to accommodate the blood coming back flowing from the body.
- Left-sided heart failure: The heart’s power to push oxygen-rich blood all around the body decreases.
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure(CHF)-The following are a few common symptoms:
- Shortness of breath- Less blood supply to the body’s cells and tissues causes shortness of breath.
- Dizziness, confusion, fainting- Less blood flow to the brain raises such issues.
- Fatigue- Lesser oxygen supply to the organs and muscles.
- Nocturia (waking up in the night)- Excess blood flowing through the kidney at night causes the kidney to generate more urine, increasing urination.
- Edema(swelling)- Consistent swelling in the ankle, feet, lower legs, and abdomen due to right-side heart failure.
- Irregular heartbeats and cough- The irregular heartbeat causes irregular heartbeats and causes cough due to fluid accumulating in the lungs.
Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and avoiding smoking ensure the heart is healthy. Medication along with invasive procedures may e required to treat CHF.
Angioplasty to open blocked arteries can be an option. The cardiologist will suggest the best option based on the condition.
What is Kidney Failure?
The kidney is a set of organs located in the vicinity of the lower back and one kidney individually on the side of the spine. The function of the kidney is to wash off the toxins from the body.
The toxins are flushed out through urination. The failure of the kidney occurs when it fails to filter out toxins from the blood.
The health of the kidney is affected by the following reasons:
- Toxic exposure or specific medication
- Critical and long-term disease
- Critical dehydration
Our body gets overloaded with toxins when the kidney functions irregularly. Kidney Failure is also called end-stage renal disease(ESRD).
Dialysis or a kidney transplant is the option when the kidney stops working.
The common symptoms of kidney failure:
- Swelling of legs due to retention of toxins in the body.
- Reduced amount of urine
- Shortness of breath and fatigue
- Drowsiness and persistent nausea.
Causes of Kidney failure:
Many conditions lead to kidney failure. The causes even determine the type of kidney failure:
- Loss of blood flow to the kidney- An unexpected deprivation of blood could be a crucial reason for kidney failure. Blood loss could occur due to a heart attack or critical burn.
- Urine elimination problem-When toxins get accumulate, it overloads the kidney. A few types of cancer cause blockage in the urine passageway. Prostate, colon, cervical, or bladder cancer causes the problem. Kidney stones and blood clots in the urinary tract interfere with urination leading to kidney failure.
- Other Causes-Drugs, Alcoholism, Diabetes, and Toxins are a few reasons responsible for kidney failure.
There are five types of kidney failure:
- Acute prerenal kidney failure- Less flow of blood does not allow the kidney to filter toxins. The reason for decreased blood flow helps in curing this kidney failure.
- Acute intrinsic kidney failure- A straight damage to the kidney caused by bodily effects or injuries and even toxic overload causes this kidney failure.
- Chronic prerenal kidney failure- Reduced blood flow for an extended period shrinks the kidney and impacts the capability to operate productively.
- Chronic intrinsic kidney failure occurs due to the impact and damage through intrinsic kidney failure. The trauma causes issues like critical haemorrhage or deficiency of oxygen.
- Chronic post-renal kidney failure- The obstruction to the urinary area stops urination. The tension brings rise to kidney damage.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking proper precautions during urinary tract conditions are crucial for a healthy kidney.
Main Differences Between CHF and Kidney Failure
- In CHF, the blood pressure increases. High blood pressure makes Kidney failure more likely.
- In CHF, the heart functions less efficiently and is not able to pump oxygen-rich blood. Kidney failure occurs when the kidney is unable to filter waste.
- In CHF, the lungs get congested due to accumulated fluid and an irregular heartbeat. In kidney failure, there is swelling due to water retention and decreased urine output.
- Change in lifestyle, medication, and operation improves CHF conditions. Dialysis or a kidney transplant is the required medical treatment for kidney failure.
- CHF affects the functioning of the kidneys. Kidney failure affects the functioning of the heart.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071916404000727
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167527306008692
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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The comparison table is particularly useful in understanding the differences between CHF and kidney failure at a glance.
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