Heart Failure Specialist

What is heart failure?

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a serious medical issue that occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as it should. It’s impossible to reverse many of the conditions responsible for heart failure. However, healthy lifestyle changes can ease uncomfortable symptoms and help you live longer.

If you’re living with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, you’re also more likely to suffer from heart failure. Taking action to treat these issues now can lower your risk of more severe complications later on. 

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

Heart failure can occur suddenly (acute) or develop gradually over a lengthy period (chronic). Common signs and symptoms associated with heart failure, include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Swelling of the feet and ankles
• Rapid heartbeat
• Swelling of your abdomen
• Rapid weight gain
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea
• Difficulty concentrating

If you have heart failure, you might also experience frequent chest pain or an increased need to urinate throughout the night.

What causes heart failure?

Heart failure occurs for a variety of reasons. Common underlying causes include:

• High blood pressure
• Faulty heart valves
• Damage to the heart muscle
• Congenital heart defects
• Inflammation of the heart muscle
• Heart arrhythmias

You might also develop heart failure as the result of a chronic disease like diabetes, hypothyroidism, or HIV.

What is the process for diagnosing heart failure?

To diagnose heart failure, your Premier Cardiovascular Consultants provider reviews your medical history, conducts a physical exam, and checks for the presence of potential risk factors like coronary artery disease or high blood pressure.

Your doctor also uses a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs for signs of congestion. The stethoscope can also pick up unusual sounds that might point to heart failure. If your doctor wants to gain further insights, they might order laboratory tests, a chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram, or an echocardiogram. 

What is the process for treating heart failure?

Heart failure is a chronic condition for which there’s no cure. However, with adequate treatment, it’s possible to ease uncomfortable symptoms and improve your quality of life. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor might recommend prescription medications like Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or beta-blockers.

If your symptoms persist or get worse, surgical intervention like coronary bypass surgery or heart valve repair or replacement may be necessary.

To learn more about your treatment options for heart failure, schedule an appointment at Premier Cardiovascular Consultants by calling the office nearest you, or book online today.