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Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot properly pump blood. It may not fill with enough blood or be unable to send blood to the rest of the body with enough force. Some people have both problems. Heart failure develops over time as the pumping of the heart grows weaker. It can affect the right side of the heart only or both the left and right sides of the heart, which is most often the case. The leading causes of heart failure include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
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Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of heart failure are:
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and rarely, the veins in your neck
All of these symptoms are the result of buildup of fluid in your body. When symptoms start, you may feel tired and short of breath after routine physical effort—like climbing stairs. As the heart grows weaker, symptoms get worse. You may begin to feel tired and short of breath after getting dressed or walking across the room. Some people even have shortness of breath while lying down.
Diagnosis
To diagnose heart failure, your physician will conduct a physical exam, ask about your symptoms, and solicit information about your risk factors and your family history of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure or diabetes. In addition, your physician may order or perform diagnostic tests:
Treatment
Recommended treatment for heart failure will depend on the type and severity of the disease. For people with any stage of heart failure, treatment will include lifestyle measures, medication therapy and ongoing medical care. People with severe heart failure also may require medical procedures (pacemaker or ICD placement), surgical procedures (left ventricular assist device or heart transplantation) and cardiac rehabilitation.
The Heart and Vascular Center at Providence offers a variety of resources to diagnose and treat heart failure patients:
Physicians
Need current list of relevant physicians.
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