Congestive heart failure is a heart problem that occurs because your heart is weak and cannot pump blood around your body. You are expected to keep visiting your care provider for checkups and close monitoring of your heart condition. Congestive heart failure in Tomball is managed by experienced specialists who offer advanced treatments for your congestive heart failure condition. Get to understand more about congestive heart failure.
What is congestive heart failure?
Congestive heart failure is a cardiac disorder that occurs when your heart is not strong enough to pump blood throughout your body. Your heart is composed of muscles that use a pumping system to supply oxygenated blood to all body organs and tissues. Generally, your body requires nutrients and oxygen supplied to them through the pumped blood to heal, grow and regenerate. However, in congestive heart failure, insufficient nutrients and oxygen reach your tissues due to impaired heart function. Blood can accumulate in your legs, arms, digestive tract, and lungs, leading to further complications.
What symptoms can congestive heart failure cause?
Some of the common symptoms of congestive heart failure are;
- Palpitations
- Chest pain
- Less frequent urination
- Chronic fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Bulging neck veins
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swollen legs, arms, and abdomen
You might also experience your legs frozen while you are resting. It is essential to understand that many people suffering from congestive heart failure mainly do not experience obvious symptoms like those named above and assume that these symptoms may be related to their aging process.
What causes congestive heart failure?
Various conditions can result in congestive heart failure, including valve disorders, hypertension, lung disease, cardiac tumors, arrhythmia, structural heart abnormalities, and coronary artery disease. During your appointment, the care provider performs a comprehensive examination and tests to help him diagnose congestive heart failure. The tests performed are urine and blood tests, echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, nuclear stress tests, and cardiac positron emission tomography scans. Blood flow to your heart can also be measured using an innovative BioZ Cardio profile impedance cardiograph device.
What treatment would you need for congestive heart failure?
Some of the treatment options available to manage congestive heart failure include:
- Lifestyle changes
Most cardiovascular conditions, including congestive heart failure, are usually caused or worsened by unhealthy habits like too much alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet, being obese, and lack of exercise. Dealing with these factors reduces the stress exerted on your heart, thus improving your overall health.
- Medications
Drugs administered usually play multiple functions in treating and managing congestive heart failure. For instance, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors reduce high blood pressure, diuretics reduce fluid retention, and digoxin strengthens the heartbeat.
- Balloon angioplasty
Balloon angioplasty is a treatment option that uses a cardiac catheter to treat coronary artery disease. A catheter is usually inserted into an artery in your groin during this procedure. The health care provider passes the catheter along your artery until it gets into the heart, giving access to your heart without the need for surgery.
- Implantable devices
Implantable devices include a defibrillator or pacemaker whose purpose is to regulate your heartbeat, thus preventing the occurrence of a heart attack.
Call or visit Northwest Houston Heart Center today if you are suffering from congestive heart failure or experiencing some of its symptoms. You can book your appointment online or call their offices.