Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiac Failure

When the heart cannot pump blood as it normally does, it leads to cardiac failure or congestive heart failure. In this situation, blood can back up, and there might be fluid buildup in the lungs. Certain cardiac conditions such as narrowed or blocked arteries of the heart or high blood pressure cause the heart to weaken or stiffen over time, making it unable to fill and pump blood effectively.

There are a number of causes that can lead to heart failure, such as angina (chest pain), consuming an excessive amount of alcohol, problems with the thyroid gland, high cholesterol and blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, issues with heart valves, and cardiac infections.

The severity of the symptoms will vary depending on weak your heart is. Firstly, you may find yourself physically unable to climb stairs. Walking and climbing might make you feel exhausted, out of breath, and weak. Fluid buildup in the lungs can make it difficult for the lungs to deliver oxygen to the bloodstream, leading to shortness of breath.

Fluid buildup can cause swelling in the feet, abdomen, and legs. It can cause people to rapidly gain weight since less blood reaches the kidneys, preventing them from releasing water and salt as they should. Other signs and symptoms include a wet cough, nausea, and loss of appetite. This may lead to people requiring patient assistance to help them carry on with day-to-day tasks.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will take a thorough medical history, assess your symptoms, and conduct a physical exam to diagnose cardiac failure. The doctor will also look for certain risk factors such as diabetes, increased blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. The doctor may also listen to your lungs to check for lung congestion and your heart for murmurs (whooshing noises) that could indicate cardiac failure. Your veins in the neck may be examined, and fluid buildup in your legs and abdomen will also be checked. Following the initial checkup, the doctor may prescribe some tests:

• Blood tests: They will be used to screen for indicators of heart disease.
• X-Ray: The status of the lung and heart can be seen on X-ray scans.
• ECG: The electrical signs in the heart are recorded during this short and painless test. It may display the frequency and duration of heartbeats.
• Echocardiogram: Images of the heart in motion are created using sound waves. This test reveals the heart’s size, valves and structure, and blood flow. Ejection fraction, which reveals how well the heart pumps, helps diagnose cardiac failure and suggests treatment, can be measured.

Results of these tests can be used to detect cardiac failure, assist doctors in determining the origin of any signs and symptoms, and determine the right treatment plan. Doctors can use one of the two classification systems to select the appropriate therapy:

Classification by New York Heart Association

• Class 1: There are no signs or symptoms of cardiac failure.
• Class 2: Daily tasks are not challenging, but exertion can lead to exhaustion and shortness of breath.
• Class 3: Day-to-day tasks are difficult.
• Even while resting, people experience shortness of breath

Classification by American Heart Association

• Stage A: Multiple risk factors but no signs and symptoms
• Stage B: Heart disease is present, but no indicators of cardiac failure
• Stage C: Heart disease and its signs and symptoms are visible.
• Stage D: Advanced cardiac failure that needs to be taken care of through special treatment.

Treatment

Cardiac failure and symptoms can improve with medication. Doctors can occasionally treat the underlying cause of cardiac failure. It can be reversed by mending a heart valve or managing a fast heartbeat. However, for most patients, cardiac failure treatment is a combination of the right medication prescription and sometimes devices that help the heart pump and contract effectively.

Surgery

A doctor might have to perform certain surgeries as a response to cardiac failure:

• Heart valve repair/replacement
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy
• Coronary bypass surgery
• Heart transplant

Medications

Cardiac failure is usually treated with a mix of medication prescriptions. These include:

• ACE Inhibitors: These medications help increase blood flow and lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.
• Beta blockers: These lower blood pressure and slow down your heart rate.
• Digoxin: These increase the strength of the heart muscle contractions.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers: They have the same function as ACE inhibitors and can be given to those patients who can’t handle ACE inhibitors.

If you or your loved one are going through a difficult time and searching for patient assistance programs or free medication programs, reach out to The Rx Helper. They offer low-cost medication for both under-insured and uninsured patients. Contact them today!

About the Author

The author has been part of the healthcare industry for ten years and is currently affiliated with The Rx Helper. She enjoys painting and playing the piano in her spare time.

Kistopher is an experienced writer and has years of knowledge in various aspects of life and business.