Heart Failure

Heart failure is a common, but serious condition that affects more than 5.7 million children and adults. Some of the most common causes of heart failure include diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and high blood pressure. At Heart and Vascular Care in Plano, Texas, board-certified cardiologist Bhupinder Singh, MD, works with men and women to diagnose and treat heart failure. To schedule your appointment, call the office or book online today.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when your heart muscle fails to transport blood like it should. Common causes of heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, damage the structure of your heart, negatively affecting its ability to fill and pump.

Heart failure gets worse over a period of time. There’s no way to reverse it, but healthy lifestyle changes like eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly can slow its progression and improve your quality of life. 

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

The symptoms of heart failure depend on if it’s chronic or acute. Signs to watch out for include:

• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the feet and ankles
• Fatigue
• Increased need to urinate at night
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea
• Difficulty concentrating
• Reduced ability to exercise

If you have heart failure, you might also experience chest pain (angina). 

Are there different types of heart failure?

At Heart and Vascular Care, Dr. Singh diagnoses and treats all types of heart failure, including:

• Systolic heart failure
• Diastolic heart failure
• Combined systolic and diastolic heart failure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Cardiorenal syndrome
• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
• Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Dr. Singh uses his years of training and cardiovascular expertise to develop custom heart failure treatment plans that ease pain, improve circulation, and lower your risk of future complications.

How is heart failure diagnosed?

To diagnose heart failure, Dr. Singh conducts a physical exam, reviews your medical history, and asks you about the symptoms you’re experiencing. He also checks for the presence of certain risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.

Next, Dr. Singh uses a stethoscope to listen to your lungs and heart. If he hears congestion or unusual sounds, he might also order blood tests, a chest X-ray, or an echocardiogram to gain further insights about your heart and its ability to pump blood.

How is heart failure treated?

Treatment of heart failure depends on the severity of your symptoms and the condition of your heart. Usually, Dr. Singh recommends a combination of healthy lifestyle changes, prescription medications, and if necessary, surgical intervention.

If your heart failure is life-threatening, Dr. Singh might recommend an implanted device like a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). These electromechanical implants assist cardiac circulation and pump blood to your vital organs and extremities. 

If you have a severe case of heart failure that won’t respond to treatment with an implantable device, Dr. Singh might recommend a heart transplant. A heart transplant is a type of surgery where you receive a healthy donor heart.

To explore your treatment options for heart failure, schedule an appointment at Heart and Vascular Care. Call the office or book online today.