
Get answers to your Heart Failure questions.
Dr. Gottlieb’s Bio | Q&A Archive
CHF; Congestive heart failure
If you have heart failure, your doctor will monitor you closely. You will have follow up appointments at least every 3 to 6 months and tests every now and then to check your heart function. For example, an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram) will be done once in awhile to see how well your heart pumps blood with each beat.
You will need to carefully monitor yourself and help manage your condition. One important way to do this is to track your weight on a daily basis. Weight gain can be a sign that you are retaining fluid and that the pump function of your heart is worsening. Make sure you weigh yourself at the same time each day and on the same scale, with little to no clothes on.
Other important measures include:
Here are some tips to lower your salt and sodium intake:
Your doctor may consider prescribing the following medications:
If you have sudden (acute) heart failure, you may be admitted to the hospital. Treatment may involve:
Swan-Ganz catheterization may be needed in some cases. If excessive fluid has gathered around the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium), pericardiocentesis will be done.
Severe heart failure may require the following treatments:
These devices can be life-saving, but they are not permanent solutions. Patients who become dependent on circulatory support will need a heart transplant.
Heart failure symptoms may be improved with biventricular pacemaker or cardiac resynchronization therapy. Ask your provider if you are a candidate for this type of treatment.
Heart failure is a serious disorder. It is usually a chronic illness, which may get worse with infection or other physical stress.
Many forms of heart failure can be controlled with medication, lifestyle changes, and treatment of any underlying disorder.
Possible side effects of medications include:
Call your health care provider if weakness, increased cough or sputum production, sudden weight gain or swelling, or other new or unexplained symptoms develop.
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you experience severe crushing chest pain, fainting, or rapid and irregular heartbeat (particularly if other symptoms accompany a rapid and irregular heartbeat).
Hunt SA, Abraham WT, Chin MH, Feldman AM, Francis GS, Ganiats TG, et al. ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;46:1-82.
Mann DL. Management of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Libby: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Saunders; 2007: chap 25.
Hess OM and Carroll JD. Clinical assessment of heart failure. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Libby: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Saunders; 2007: chap 23.