VARIOUS TREATMENTS FOR HEART FAILURE

Receiving a diagnosis of heart failure is not necessarily a bleak diagnosis. Doctors have many treatments for this condition. You will probably be referred to a cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in treating heart conditions. There are many treatments available, and they will work with you to find what works best for you. Some of the options will be lifestyle changes, various medications and devices and surgical procedures. If you or a loved one have symptoms of heart problems, contact your primary care physician. After initial consultation and testing, you will probably be referred to a cardiologist to handle further care.

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DIAGNOSING HEART FAILURE

 A diagnosis of heart failure can only come through a healthcare provider. They may use any of or more than one of the following tests: blood tests, chest exrays, an ekg (electrocardiogram), echocardiogram, stress test, etc. Your healthcare provider will be looking for your EF or ejection fraction. The EF indicates how much blood your heart pumps out every time it beats. If your healthcare provider diagnoses you with heart failure, there are various treatments they may recommend. You need to know that your healthcare provider can treat heart failure and slow the development at any stage to make you feel more comfortable. Our next post will discuss some of the treatments that may be available to one who receives a diagnosis of heart failure.

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SIGNS OF HEART FAILURE

 In yesterday's post regarding heart failure, I promised more information to follow. If you think you or someone close to you may have heart failure, here are the major signs to look for:

• Shortness of breath with everyday activities
• Increased fatigue
• Swelling of the legs, feet, ankles, abdomen
• Feeling faint or lightheaded
• Trouble sleeping lying flat on one's back
• Persistent cough or wheezing
• Loss of appetite, upset stomach, nausea

In most cases of heart failure, the patient may already be under the care of a physician. If so, and you notice any of these symptoms, talk to the physician about them. If not already under the care of a physician, make an appointment right away with a primary care doctor who can check the person and get them in with a cardiologist as needed.

HEART FAILURE

Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with heart failure? Do you even know what heart failure is? The words heart failure can sound scary. After all failure means not working and how can one live if their heart fails? That is not exactly what heart failure means. Here is the simple explanation for heart failure: A condition in which the heart has trouble pumping blood throughout the body. The heart has not failed, in that it is still working. However, it is failing to work as effectively as it should. The heart muscle has gotten too weak or stiff to function properly, thus causing heart failure. Over the next few days, we will discuss diagnosis, treatment, etc.

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