The heart is the chief driving organ of the body. Cardiovascular complications usually stem from the heart. A common cardiovascular defect that affects 6.2 million Americans is heart failure. Heart failure means the heart is not pumping as it should and without complete cessation. Like other heart defects, heart failure is hard to detect until later stages when it may be fatal. However, specialized cardiologists at Prime Heart and Vascular center stress the importance of early prevention and detection. The expert cardiologists employ patient-based care while leveraging on FDA-approved innovative treatments. Here’s insightful information to steer you in managing heart failure.
Symptoms of Heart Failure
Heart failure symptoms masquerade as lung defects in some cases. The similarity in symptoms of heart, lung, and kidney defects is uncanny. Some signs you should look out for are:
- Shortness of breath
- Varicose veins
- Irregular heartbeat
- Intermittent fatigue
- Swelling in your ankles and legs.
Causes of Heart Failure
While there is an increase in heart failures due to sedentary lifestyles and underlying medical conditions, heart defects are multifactorial complications. Common causes include:
- Heart attack
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Lung disease
- High blood pressure
- Cardiomyopathy
Some heart risk factors can potentially cause heart failure if they aggravate congenital heart disease. Diabetes, obesity, and a fraction of cancer treatments can worsen the severity of congestive heart failure.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you suspect you have any symptoms, it is noble to get checked at a specialist’s cardiology center. It is imperative to get frequent checkups, especially if you have diabetes or other risk factors. Heart failure diagnosis is an intricate procedure that employs various tests and precise analysis of each for conclusive results.
Sonographers employ echocardiographic tests to generate a cardiogram which gives an unobstructed view of the heart, valves, and pleural membrane. Blood tests check for diseases that can affect the heart, while heart biopsy determines muscle failure that may be the origin of congestive heart failure. Another salient test is the ejection fraction. Ejection fraction is a measure of the portion of blood that leaves your heart when it contracts. An MRI or CT scan can evaluate the ejection fraction. Once the cardiologist establishes that you have heart failure, they will employ suitable remedies.
Heart failure remedies blend pharmacologic therapy, palliative care, lifestyle modification, and device therapy to reduce morbidity and manage the causes of congestive heart failure. Medication cures causes of HF in the early stages of the disease. The medications unclog the arteries or reduce your heart rate to a normal one. ACE inhibitors and calcium blockers are some of the drugs that manage heart failure. However, you need a prescription to purchase the medicines. For borderline cases, cardiologists use angioplasty and transplant surgery for total heart failure. Surgery is the most effective way of treating heart failure. Less invasive methods such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators mitigate heart failure by shocking the heart to restore regular pumping.
Outlook
Heart failure is not a terminal disease, and various treatment methods have excellent success rates. Specialized centers offer these treatments tailored to each client’s needs. Make the noble step and schedule an appointment at Prime Heart Center for the wellness of your cardiovascular system.