Heart Failure

What is heart failure?

Heart failure happens when your heart muscles can’t adequately pump blood. You can live with heart failure for many years, and it typically arises from other cardiovascular conditions. Certain heart conditions develop over time, while others are present from birth. Your heart might be too weak to pump blood well because of:

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure. It develops when plaque builds up along the walls of your arteries and makes them narrower. 

Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, causes your heart to work harder than normal to pump the blood through your body. After years of having high blood pressure, your heart muscles can weaken or become too stiff to pump blood well. 

Myocarditis

If your heart muscle is inflamed, you have myocarditis. Certain viruses, including hepatitis C and HIV, among others, can cause myocarditis, which makes it harder for your heart to pump blood.

Faulty valves

The valves in your heart help blood flow through it in the right direction. If a valve is faulty, your heart must work harder to pump blood. This can lead to heart failure over time as your heart weakens. 

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat rhythm. Heart failure can develop as your heart must work harder if it beats too quickly or too slowly. 

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

Heart failure can cause a variety of symptoms. Some of them are difficult to link to your heart health as they may seem unrelated at first. If you have heart failure, you might experience:

• Swelling in your legs (edema)
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble concentrating
• Abdominal swelling
• Frequent urination

As your heart failure worsens, so do the symptoms. Your symptoms might start out mild enough that you hardly notice them. Because there are many other possible causes of the symptoms of heart failure, you should book an evaluation with Dr. Yashar as soon as you notice them. 

How is heart failure treated?

Dr. Yashar may perform tests like electrocardiograms (ECGs), blood tests, and X-rays to diagnose you with heart failure. Once he finds the cause, he creates an individualized treatment plan to improve your symptoms and strengthen your heart muscles. Your treatment plan may include:

• Medications (e.g., Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta blockers, etc.) 
• A heart healthy diet
• Physical activity
• Coronary bypass surgery
• Heart valve repair or replacement surgery

There are many other medications and surgeries for various forms of heart failure. Dr. Yashar explains how your treatment plan works and how it will improve your heart health.

To find out if you have heart failure and get effective treatment for it, call Payam R. Yashar, MD, or book an appointment online today.