Heart Failure
What You Should Know About Heart Failure in Houston, TX
Heart failure is more common than you may realize. Heart failure occurs when not enough blood is being pumped through the body. As a result, blood accumulates and fluid fills the lungs and tissue. From high blood pressure to severe lung disease, many factors can lead to heart failure. While we know this diagnosis may be scary, our Houston, TX, board-certified cardiologist Dr. Swati Gupta can help you learn more about your diagnosis and how to manage your symptoms.
Causes of Heart Failure
It’s important to understand the causes and risk factors for heart failure so you can protect the health of your heart. After all, there are certain lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk. Several conditions can lead to heart failure including:
- Past heart attacks
- Coronary artery disease
- Hypertension
- Defective heart valves
- Myocarditis and other heart muscle diseases
- Congenital heart disease
- Lung disease
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Obesity
- Arrhythmia
- Severe anemia
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
The Warning Signs
It’s important to recognize the warning signs of heart failure so you can turn to our cardiology team right away for treatment. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Swelling of the legs and feet
- Rapid heart rate
- Exercise intolerance
- Shortness of breath that is worse when lying down or working out
- Abdominal swelling
- Loss of appetite
- Chest pain (more often seen in people whose heart failure is due to a heart attack)
Treating Heart Failure
Heart failure is chronic and cannot be cured; however, there are ways for our team to help patients manage their symptoms. If a person’s heart failure is due to an underlying condition, heart failure may be corrected by treating the underlying cause. This may include repairing a damaged valve or treating severe anemia; however, most people with heart failure will require medication to manage symptoms. Medications are designed to lower blood pressure, reduce strain on the heart and improve blood flow, while other medications can be used to lower rapid heartbeat, treat chest pain, lower cholesterol, and prevent blood clots.