Heart Failure: Symptoms and Management
Key Takeaways:
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump blood effectively, leading to fluid buildup and reduced oxygen delivery throughout the body. It affects millions of Americans and is most manageable when diagnosed early and treated consistently. Common causes include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes and lifestyle-related risk factors. Symptoms often include shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue and rapid weight gain from fluid retention. While there is no cure, heart failure can be effectively managed through a combination of medical evaluation, diagnostic testing, medications, lifestyle changes and, in some cases, surgical or device-based interventions. Ongoing care with a cardiologist and structured support programs play a critical role in slowing disease progression, improving quality of life and reducing complications.
Heart Failure Awareness Week is Feb 8-14. This event, sponsored by the Heart Failure Society of America, raises awareness nationwide about this serious condition, the people most susceptible to developing it and the importance of early intervention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 6.7 million Americans have heart failure, and the condition Is responsible for 14.6% of all causes of death. While heart failure can be life-threatening, it’s possible to live for years with the condition when it’s diagnosed early, treated properly and monitored closely.
In order to commemorate Heart Failure Awareness Week, as well as American Heart Month (also occurring in February), South Denver Cardiology is providing our community with some important educational information that will help you recognize symptoms of heart failure and understand the steps necessary to properly manage the condition.
What Is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a condition that occurs when your heart muscle can’t pump blood properly, causing blood to build up in other parts of your body such as your lungs, legs and feet. In most instances, heart failure develops slowly and can be caused by the following conditions:
- Arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat)
- Coronary artery disease
- Congenital heart defects
- High blood pressure
- Heart valve disorders
- Heart attack
- Diabetes
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
- Unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption
- Obesity
There are two common types of heart failure:
- Left-Sided Heart Failure – The left side of your heart receives oxygen-rich blood from your lungs and delivers it to the rest of your body. During left-sided heart failure, the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to your organs, preventing them from receiving enough oxygen.
- Right-Sided Heart Failure – The right side of your heart receives oxygen-poor blood from your body and sends it to your lungs so that it can refill with oxygen. During right-sided heart failure, the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to the lungs, causing blood to build up in your veins and fluid to build up in your legs, abdomen or other areas of the body.
Symptoms of Heart Failure
There are a variety of heart failure symptoms, and your specific symptoms will depend on which side of your heart is impacted and the severity of your condition. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath when exercising or when lying down
- Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
- Fatigue or weakness
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Wheezing
- Dry, hacking cough (sometimes containing white or pink mucus)
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Rapid weight gain from fluid buildup
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Difficulty concentrating or increased alertness
- Bloated or hard stomach
It’s important to see a cardiologist if you exhibit any of these symptoms since early treatment is critical to managing the condition. Keep in mind that many of these warning signs are also common with other heart conditions, so obtaining an accurate diagnosis is necessary to ensure you receive the proper treatment.
Diagnosing Heart Failure
The diagnostic process to determine whether you have heart failure involves a review of your medical history and your family health history, as well as a physical exam. In addition, your cardiologist may perform a series of diagnostic tests to determine the type, stage and cause of your heart failure. These tests may include:
- Blood tests
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
- CT scan of the heart
- Exercise stress test to see how your heart responds to physical activity
- Cardiac MRI
Treatments for Heart Failure
Treatment options for heart failure depend on the type, severity and cause of your condition. While there’s no cure for heart failure, the goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the condition so that you can prolong your life and improve its quality.
Your customized heart failure treatment plan may include one or more of the following:
- Medications
- Lifestyle adjustments
- Surgery
Medications to Treat Heart Failure
The specific medications prescribed will depend on the cause and symptoms of your heart failure. This may include a combination of:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and reduce strain on the heart
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may be an effective option for individuals who can’t tolerate ACE inhibitors since they provide similar benefits
- Angiotensin receptor plus neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) combine two blood pressure medications to treat heart failure
- Beta blockers slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure to reduce heart failure symptoms and help your heart work better
- Diuretics make you urinate more frequently which helps prevent fluid buildup from heart failure
- Digoxin helps the heart squeeze better to improve its pumping ability
Lifestyle Adjustments to Manage Heart Failure
In many instances, making certain lifestyle adjustments in conjunction with other treatments will be necessary in order to manage other conditions causing your heart failure. These lifestyle adjustments can play in important role in slowing the progression of heart failure. Depending on the nature of your condition, you may need to implement one or more of the following:
- Quitting smoking
- Eating a heart healthy diet
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
- Staying physically active with light to moderate exercise as advised by your cardiologist
- Managing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Managing stress
Making these lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms, improve your quality of life and help you live longer.
Surgery to Treat Heart Failure
In some situations, surgery may be needed as part of your treatment for heart failure. In general, surgery may be recommended when there is a specific structural heart problem that can be fixed, such as blocked arteries or valve disease, or when the heart is so weak that medical devices or a heart transplant are needed.
Surgical procedures to treat heart failure may include:
- Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery – This procedure is often performed when severely blocked arteries are causing heart failure. During the procedure, a healthy blood vessel from a different part of the body is placed below and above the blocked artery in the heart to improve blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Heart Valve Repair or Replacement – When heart failure is caused by a damaged valve, surgery may be performed to repair or replace the valve. The specific type of valve surgery procedure will depend on the cause of the heart valve disorder.
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) – This procedure is performed to prevent complications from heart failure. An ICD is similar to a pacemaker, and it monitors your heartbeat. If it detects a dangerous rhythm to your heartbeat, it will try to correct the beat.
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) – This treatment is often performed when the lower heart chambers are pumping out of sync with each other. During the procedure, a device is implanted which sends electrical signals to the lower heart chambers to help them pump in a more coordinated way.
- Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) – A VAD is used to help pump blood from the lower chambers of the heart to the rest of your body. It is often recommended if you’re waiting to have a heart transplant.
- Heart Transplant – In situations where heart failure is so severe that it can’t effectively be managed by other treatments, a heart transplant may be recommended.
South Denver Cardiology Can Help You Manage Heart Failure
If you’re living with heart failure, South Denver Cardiology can help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Our Transitional Heart Failure Clinic provides robust support services to help you slow the progression of heart failure and live your best life. The cardiologists at our Transitional Heart Failure Clinic will help you understand your condition, present you with the best possible treatment options based on the cause and severity of your heart failure, and help you achieve your heart failure management goals.
In addition, South Denver Cardiology provides a wide range of services to help you make the lifestyle adjustments necessary to more effectively manage heart failure. These include:
- Medical weight loss clinic to help you reach and maintain a heart healthy weight
- Nutritional counseling to help you establish a heart healthy diet
- Medical fitness gym to help you develop a customized fitness routine that is appropriate for your specific heart failure condition
- Mind/body studio to help you more effectively manage stress
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We serve patients in Denver, Littleton and the surrounding areas.
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