Heart Failure Explained

• Physical Exam and Medical History: The doctor will ask about symptoms, family history, and lifestyle factors. A physical exam may reveal signs such as swelling in the legs or fluid in the lungs.
• Echocardiogram: This ultrasound test provides a detailed view of the heart’s size, structure, and function, and it can measure the ejection fraction (EF), which indicates how well the heart is pumping.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): An ECG records the heart’s electrical activity, helping detect abnormal rhythms or other conditions that may contribute to heart failure.
• Chest X-ray: Shows the size of the heart and any fluid buildup in the lungs, which is common in advanced heart failure.
• Blood Tests: Bloodwork may reveal markers like BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide), which increases when the heart is under strain, and assess organ function.
• Stress Testing and Cardiac MRI: These tests help evaluate how well the heart performs under stress and provide additional detail on heart structure and blood flow.

1. Lifestyle Changes: Adopting heart-healthy habits is essential. This includes a low-sodium diet to help reduce fluid retention, regular physical activity, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and managing stress.
2. Medications: A combination of medications is often prescribed to manage heart failure and its symptoms:
   • Diuretics: Help reduce fluid buildup by increasing urine production, relieving swelling and breathlessness.
   • ACE Inhibitors and ARBs: Lower blood pressure, reduce strain on the heart, and improve heart function.
   • Beta-blockers: Slow the heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and improve the heart’s efficiency.
   • Aldosterone Antagonists: Help reduce fluid retention and lower the risk of hospitalization.
3. Implantable Devices: In certain cases, devices may be recommended to support heart function or prevent arrhythmias:
   • Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD): Helps prevent sudden cardiac arrest by correcting dangerous heart rhythms.
   • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT): A pacemaker that helps the heart’s ventricles contract in sync, improving the heart’s pumping efficiency.
4. Surgical Options: For advanced cases, surgery may be considered:
   • Coronary Bypass Surgery: Restores blood flow to the heart muscle if blocked coronary arteries contribute to heart failure.
   • Heart Valve Repair or Replacement: Fixes malfunctioning valves that may be worsening heart failure.
   • Heart Transplant: In end-stage heart failure, a transplant may be considered when other treatments are no longer effective.

Seek medical attention if you notice symptoms such as persistent shortness of breath, difficulty breathing while lying down, swelling in the legs or abdomen, rapid weight gain from fluid retention, or sudden fatigue. These signs may indicate worsening heart failure and require prompt evaluation. Regular check-ups are essential, especially if you have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease, or a family history of heart disease. Early detection and management are key to slowing the progression of heart failure.

For additional questions on heart failure, consider consulting a healthcare provider.