Congestive Heart Failure Specialist

What is congestive heart failure?

Congestive heart failure, also known as heart failure, occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump enough blood to vital organs in your body. Your heart hasn’t stopped working, but it’s not working as effectively as it should. Heart failure can affect one or both sides of your heart and is dangerous if left untreated.

What causes heart failure?

Various medical issues can lead to congestive heart failure, including:

• Chronic high blood pressure or cholesterol
• Faulty heart valves
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart muscle damage or inflammation
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Diabetes, HIV, or thyroid disorders
• Heart defects

Risk factors for congestive heart failure include age, poor dietary habits, being overweight or obese, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, men have higher rates of congestive heart failure than women, and African-Americans are more likely to develop the condition.

What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?

You might experience the following symptoms associated with congestive heart failure:

• Shortness of breath or chest pain
• Difficulty exercising
• Fainting, weakness, or fatigue
• Coughing up pink foamy mucus
• An irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty concentrating
• Swelling in your abdomen, legs, ankles, or feet
• Rapid weight gain from fluid retention
• Nausea or lack of appetite
• Increases in urination

Complications that can arise from untreated heart failure include kidney damage or failure, liver damage, heart valve problems, abnormal heart rhythms, or early death.

How is heart failure diagnosed?

Dr. Jones uses various methods to diagnose congestive heart failure. During your consultation, he may:

• Review your medical history
• Complete a physical exam
• Order blood tests
• Perform an electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Utilize stress tests
• Take a biopsy
• Complete diagnostic imaging tests

Using these and other diagnostic methods, Dr. Jones creates a customized treatment plan that best matches your needs.

What is the treatment for congestive heart failure?

Your treatment depends on the severity of your heart failure and might include:

• Lifestyle changes
• Remote telehealth management
• Medication
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
• Minimally-invasive heart procedures
• Open heart surgery

In severe cases, Dr. Jones might recommend a heart transplant.

How can I prevent heart failure?

Some contributing factors to heart failure cannot be controlled. However, other variables that can lead to or worsen heart failure can be addressed. You can reduce your risk of developing congestive heart failure by adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as:

• Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Reducing saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium
• Not smoking or quitting smoking
• Staying active
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol
• Reducing stress
• Getting plenty of sleep

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure or have worrisome symptoms, schedule an appointment with the experienced team at BKLYNCardio today by calling or using the online booking tool.