CARDIOLOGY
HEART FAILURE – DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart can no longer pump effectively enough to supply the body with sufficient blood and oxygen. This can have various causes, including high blood pressure, heart disease, or other health problems.
The most common symptoms of heart failure:
- Shortness of breath is a common complaint of heart failure, especially during physical exertion or even when lying down.
- Tiredness and weakness: Those affected often feel exhausted and have little energy for everyday activities.
- Water retention: Heart failure can lead to fluid retention in the body. This leads to swelling in the ankles and legs. Sometimes it can also lead to water retention in the abdominal area.
- Coughing and shortness of breath at night: Many people with heart failure experience coughing and shortness of breath at night, which may indicate fluid retention in the lungs.
- Weight gain: Unintentional and unexplained weight gain can be a sign of fluid retention. Palpitations or irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrhythmia
In order to be able to make an accurate diagnosis, the medical history and physical examination are the first priority for the specialists at the ETHIANUM. We ask you in detail about your medical history and carry out a physical examination to obtain initial indications of heart failure.
Various diagnostic procedures can be initiated for this purpose. These include
- Laboratory tests: blood tests, for example, can measure biomarkers such as NT-Pro-BNP, which may indicate heart failure.
- Imaging: A differential 3D-echocardiogram is the most important diagnostic test to assess your heart function. It assesses numerous functions to determine your systolic and diastolic heart function. Resting electrocardiogram (ECG), exercise
- ECG and long-term ECG: The electrical activity of the heart is checked, rhythm disturbances are searched for and physical resilience is tested.
If the diagnosis confirms heart failure, various treatment options are available. Our heart specialists will advise you individually and discuss the best possible form of therapy with you. Read on to find out what therapies are available for a diagnosis of heart failure.
Treatment options for heart failure
- Medication: Various medications can help to alleviate symptoms and support heart function. These include ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI), beta blockers, diuretics and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 SGLT2 inhibitors.
- Lifestyle changes: A healthy diet with limited salt intake, regular exercise and smoking cessation are important steps in the management of heart failure.
- Fluid control: Monitoring fluid intake and excretion is critical to prevent fluid retention. Implantable devices: In some cases, a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) or cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) may be appropriate or necessary. We will clarify whether these therapies are suitable for you in a detailed discussion with you.
- Heart transplantation and LVAD: In cases of severe heart failure, a heart transplant or LVAD to support heart function may be a last resort.
