How To Diagnose Heart Failure
- How to diagnose heart failure at home
- Diagnosing Heart Failure | American Heart Association
- How to diagnose congestive heart failure
- How to diagnose heart failure
- How to diagnose systolic heart failure
Medically reviewed by Last updated on Oct 12, 2020. Health Guide Disease Reference Care Notes Medication List Q & A What is Heart Failure? Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump efficiently enough to meet the body's need for blood. Contrary to its name, heart failure does not mean the heart has failed completely. Heart failure is also called congestive heart failure. The inefficient pumping associated with heart failure causes a backup of blood in the veins leading to the heart. It causes the kidneys to retain fluid. As a result, the body's tissues swell. The swelling most commonly affects the legs. But it also can occur in other tissues and organs. When it occurs in the lungs, it causes breathing difficulty. Heart failure often is the end stage of another form of heart disease. Its many causes include: Coronary artery disease High blood pressure (hypertension) Heart valve disorders (including rheumatic heart disease) Congenital heart disorders Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) Heart attack Cardiac arrhythmias (problems with the heart rate and/or rhythm) Exposure to toxins, including excessive alcohol Hyperthyroidism, diabetes and prolonged lung disease also increase the risk of heart failure.
How to diagnose heart failure at home
You may feel tired no matter how many hours of sleep you get, and common everyday tasks wear you out. Your limbs or body may feel overly weak when you try to do things. [4] This occurs because the heart has trouble pumping blood to the brain, so the rest of your body gets less blood pumped to it. 5 Check for changes in appetite. You may notice that your appetite has changed. You may feel less hungry than usual or you may feel full all the time. You also may experience bouts of nausea or feeling sick to your stomach that affects your appetite. [5] The appetite changes are caused by a lack of blood flow to your stomach and other digestive organs. 6 Look for any heart irregularities. If you are experiencing heart failure, you may experience irregular heartbeats or a rapid heartbeat. They may feel like heart palpitations, or like your heart is racing in your chest. This may cause chest pain, and be accompanied by fainting or a shortness of breath. [6] Your heart beats faster as it tries to get blood to the rest of your body.
Diagnosing Heart Failure | American Heart Association
Symptoms of Heart Failure The following things are common signs of heart failure: Trouble breathing when you're active or resting. Some people might also need to sleep sitting up or with many pillows under their head to help them breathe. Swelling in your feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen (belly) Fatigue (feeling more tired or weak than usual) Feeling weak, dizzy, or lightheaded Fast heartbeat or uneven heartbeat Dry cough, which may have a white or pink mucus Sudden weight gain Chest pain Trouble focusing or not being as alert Not feeling hungry Nausea (feeling like you might throw up) Diagnosing Heart Failure There are many different tests to diagnose heart failure. You may have 1 or more of the following tests below. Your healthcare provider will tell you what to expect. Chest x-ray. This will help your doctor see if there's fluid in your lungs, if your heart is enlarged, or both. Blood tests. These tests will check for a hormone called brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) that's released by the cells in your heart when you have heart failure.
How to diagnose congestive heart failure
These are particularly important if the patient requires a long period of bed rest. Your doctor also will address the underlying cause of your heart failure. Heart failure related to coronary artery disease may require additional medications, angioplasty or surgery. When heart failure is caused by a poorly functioning heart valve, your doctor may advise surgical repair and valve replacement. For some heart failure patients, losing weight or avoiding alcohol can dramatically improve symptoms. Your doctor will tell you how much exercise is appropriate. Balancing physical activity with rest is important in more advanced stages of heart failure. Eventually medications and self-treatment may no longer be helpful. At this point, a heart transplant may be considered. This treatment option is limited by a shortage of donor hearts. It usually is reserved for patients younger than 65. When To Call a Professional Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms, particularly if you already have been diagnosed with heart disease: Significant fatigue Difficulty breathing Swelling of the ankles and legs Swelling of your abdomen Episodes of breathlessness Prognosis The outlook depends on: Patient's age Severity of the heart failure Severity of the underlying heart disease Other factors When heart failure develops suddenly and has a treatable cause, people sometimes can regain normal heart function after treatment.
How to diagnose heart failure
Download Article Heart failure, or congestive heart failure, is a condition where your heart stops pumping blood like it should. Early detection of heart failure and proper treatment can help you live longer and have an active life. Learn how to diagnose heart failure so you can get the proper treatment and maintain a better quality of life. Identifying the Symptoms of Heart Failure 1 Look for shortness of breath. Shortness of breath is a common symptom of heart failure. This breathlessness may happen at any time. You may experience it when you participate in a physical activity, or you may feel breathless when you are sitting around. You may also experience shortness of breath when you are sleeping, which may wake you up. [1] This shortness of breath can impact your daily activities and exercise routines. You may even wake up feeling tired or restless because you are not getting a good night's sleep. 2 Monitor for coughing. Coughing can be a symptom of heart failure. You may find yourself coughing more than usual, or wheezing when you breathe.
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How to diagnose systolic heart failure
Talk to your doctor if you would like a referral to a physical therapist. Talk with your primary care provider or cardiologist about how to manage other health problems (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes), if you have them. Join a cardiac rehabilitation program. This is a program that helps improve the health and well-being of people who have heart problems. The program includes: Exercises for heart health. Education on ways to lower your risk for other heart problems. Counseling to reduce stress. Back to top
You may find that you are coughing up mucus that is white or pink tinged, but not green or yellow. [2] This coughing is caused by fluid building up in the lungs. The lungs can't pump the blood fast enough, so as it slows returning to the heart, it runs into slow-moving blood, which causes it to back up into the lungs. 3 Watch for swelling. Swelling is a sign of heart disease because swelling indicates a buildup of fluid in the body. You may see swelling in your lower body, like your feet, ankles, legs, and even abdomen. Because of this, your shoes, socks, or pants may fit more tightly. [3] When you experience heart failure, the blood pumps slower, which causes a bit of a "traffic jam" effect as blood returns to the heart. When the blood returning to the heart can't get to the heart, it finds somewhere else to go, like your tissues. This causes swelling. You may experience weight gain that is due to the swelling in your abdomen region. 4 Notice any unusual fatigue. Fatigue or a feeling of being overly tired is another symptom of heart disease.