Congestive Heart Failure
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Cardiology Specialists of Orange County
Board Certified in Cardiovascular Diseases & Interventional Cardiology located in Santa Ana, CA; Newport Beach, CA; & Irvine, CA
When something weakens your heart muscle so that it can't pump blood properly, it causes congestive heart failure. If you have symptoms of this disease, Cardiology Specialists of Orange County's experienced, knowledgeable cardiologists can help. At locations in Santa Ana, Irvine, and Newport Beach, California, the practice provides state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for accurately diagnosing heart problems as well as advanced treatments for the causes of congestive heart failure. Find effective therapies for your cardiovascular condition by calling the office closest to you or book an appointment online today.
Congestive Heart Failure Q & A
What is congestive heart failure?
You might develop congestive heart failure if your heart has become too weak to pump blood through your body properly.
The muscle in your heart keeps your blood pumping, delivering oxygen and nutrition to all your cells and tissues. If something affects your heart's ability to pump blood, it deprives your body of oxygen and nutrients, and the blood can start collecting in places such as your limbs, lungs, and digestive tract.
What might cause congestive heart failure?
Congestive heart failure is frequently a complication of coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. You could also develop congestive heart failure if you have:
- Arrhythmia
- Tumors in your heart
- Valve disorders
- Structural heart abnormalities
- Lung disease
Cardiology Specialists of Orange County has state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at each of its locations to help your cardiologist determine the cause of your congestive heart failure.
What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?
Symptoms of congestive heart failure may include:
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Bulging neck veins
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Urinating less frequently
You might also find your arms, legs, or abdomen become swollen, or your limbs feel cold when you're not moving.
The symptoms of congestive heart failure could vary depending on the reasons for your condition and its severity. You might have minimal or even no apparent symptoms.
How is congestive heart failure treated?
Cardiology Specialists of Orange County prepares personalized treatment plans for all its patients that reflect the reason for your congestive heart failure and factors like existing health problems, your age, and how severely the disease is affecting you.
Approaches to treating congestive heart failure may include:
Lifestyle changes
Changing aspects of your life that stress your heart can prevent your congestive heart failure from worsening. You might need to look at eating a heart-healthy diet, doing more exercise, stopping smoking, or cutting down your alcohol intake. If you're overweight or obese, weight loss is also essential.
Medications
Medications perform various functions that can help your heart work more efficiently and address the symptoms of congestive heart failure. Digoxin, for instance, enables your heart muscle to contract more effectively, ACE inhibitors can lower high blood pressure, and diuretics help manage fluid build-up.
Implantable devices
Implantable devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators might be necessary to support normal heart function.
If you have any congestive heart failure symptoms, call Cardiology Specialists of Orange County or schedule an appointment online today.