Heart Failure

You can make a big difference with healthy lifestyle changes.

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood to its full capacity. When this happens, the blood gets pooled up resulting in fluid accumulation in the lungs and shortness of breath. Heart failure is a progressive condition which means that certain health conditions such as high blood pressure or narrowed arteries decrease the efficiency of the heart gradually. 

Heart failure is life-threatening. Patients with severe symptoms may even require a heart transplant or a ventricular assist device. If diagnosed early, however, correct treatments may save a patient and help them to sustain. Furthermore, lifestyle changes can greatly add up to improve the quality of life of such patients. 

Our highly qualified and professional cardiology team at Baderia Golden Heart Hospital provides incredible patient outcomes by applying novel cardiological diagnoses, procedures, and treatments.

Symptoms of Heart Failure

Heart failure can either occur gradually or suddenly. The main symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath with minimal activity.
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
• Persistent fatigue and weakness.
• Persistent cough or wheezing; sometimes with blood.
• Reduced ability to exercise.
• Swelling in the abdomen.
• Unintentional weight gains due to fluid buildup.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Nausea.
• Lack of appetite.
• Chest pain.

Diagnosis of Heart Failure

We at Baderia Golden Heart Hospital believe in examining the patients on various levels to offer the most advanced treatment. Our state-of-the-art facilities along with the expertise of our doctors provide all-around treatment for patients with heart failure.

Upon visiting our hospital, the doctor will conduct a thorough physical examination, study your previous medical history, and review your existing symptoms to determine heart failure. Following this, our doctor will run some additional tests to confirm the condition:

• Blood Tests: Blood tests will be conducted to determine the presence of other diseases that can affect the heart. Moreover, the presence of certain compounds in the blood also indicates the inefficacy of the heart. This will be evaluated from blood tests.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test will be conducted to evaluate the electrical activity in your heart. This test will show the timing and lengths of your heartbeats which indicates heart failure.
• Echocardiogram: This test produces images of the heart with the help of sound waves. The test shows the size and structure of the heart along with the blood flow. 
• Stress test: A stress test will be conducted to measure the health of the heart during activity. During this test, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill attached to an ECG machine. This will measure the capacity of your heart and lungs to get oxygen.
• Imaging tests: A series of imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs will be conducted to study the image of your heart and evaluate heart issues.
• Coronary angiogram: In this test, the doctor will inject a dye into your blood vessels through a catheter. This will make your arteries visible on the X-ray. It will help the doctor in determining any blockage.

Surgery for Heart Failure

At Baderia Golden Heart Hospital, our main aim is to offer patients comfort and satisfaction. We curate the most suitable treatment strategy for our patients by studying their condition. Usually, the first line of treatment includes medications and lifestyle changes. Surgery is recommended if the medications and lifestyle changes are unable to improve the condition. The doctor may perform the following surgeries depending on your condition:

• Coronary Bypass Surgery:

If the arteries in your body are extremely blocked, the doctor will recommend bypass surgery. During this surgery, the doctor will take a healthy vessel from your leg, arm or chest, and connect it to your blocked arteries. This improves blood flow to your heart muscles.

• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT):

During this surgery, the doctor will place a device called a pacemaker in your heart to send electrical signals to the ventricles. These signals will trigger your ventricles to contract and improve the pumping of blood.

• Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs):

During this surgery, the doctor will attach you to a mechanical circulatory support device. This device will help in pumping blood from the ventricles to the rest of your body.

• Heart Transplant:

Patients with severe heart failure or total heart damage may require a transplant. In this procedure, the doctor will replace your damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor.