Description The heart pumps blo...
Description
The heart pumps blood through the arteries and veins. With congestive heart failure, the pumping force of the heart is reduced. Left sided heart failure results in fluid backing up into the lungs causing breathing problems, and right sided heart failure produces fluid in the legs (edema) and the abdomen (ascites). Congestive heart failure (CHF) can have many causes with the most common being high blood pressure (hypertension), heart attacks, viral heart infections (myocarditis), congenital heart defects, and valvular heart disease. Patients with known CHF can experience worsening symptoms if they eat too much salt, stop taking their medications or have another co-existing illness such as pneumonia.
Symptoms
Shortness of breath, especially if lying flat (orthopnea), awaking suddenly gasping for air (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea), swollen legs (edema), distended abdomen (ascites), shortness of breath with exercise.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. The goal is to identify the cause of the heart failure and reverse the adverse effects. Once the cause is identified the extent of the disease can be assessed by performing X-rays, blood tests and an echocardiogram.
Tests:
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Echocardiogram (ECHO), Electrocardiogram (EKG), Troponin, X-ray
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Family Practice
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. The goal is to identify the cause of the heart failure and reverse the adverse effects. Once the cause is identified the extent of the disease can be assessed by performing X-rays, blood tests and an echocardiogram.
Tests:
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Echocardiogram (ECHO), Electrocardiogram (EKG), Troponin, X-ray
Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Family Practice
Treatment
Therapy depends on the extent of the disease and the severity of the symptoms. Treatment includes: controlling the blood pressure and reducing the work of the heart with blood pressure medications, increasing the urine output with diuretics, and maximizing oxygen with supplemental oxygen. Reversing the cause of the CHF exacerbation is essential to recovery. For severe cases that do not improve with standard medications, heart transplant may be recommended.