Heart failure, sometimes called congestive heart failure or CHF, occurs when the heart cannot pump or relax normally enough to meet the body’s needs. This can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs, legs, abdomen, or other tissues and may cause shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue, or reduced exercise tolerance.
At Heart and Vascular Specialists, we evaluate the cause of heart failure symptoms and build a personalized care plan. Heart failure may develop from coronary artery disease, prior heart attack, high blood pressure, valve disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea, lung disease, congenital heart disease, alcohol or drug exposure, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other medical conditions.
The goal of care is to improve symptoms, reduce fluid overload, optimize medications, lower hospitalization risk, and coordinate advanced care when needed.
Symptoms patients may notice
- Shortness of breath with activity, at rest, or when lying flat
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, or abdomen
- Rapid weight gain from fluid retention
- Fatigue, weakness, or reduced ability to exercise
- Persistent cough, wheezing, or waking up short of breath
- Poor appetite, abdominal bloating, nausea, or early fullness
- Mental fog, confusion, sleepiness, or poor concentration in more advanced cases
How we evaluate this condition
- Medical history, physical exam, medication review, and risk-factor assessment
- EKG, echocardiogram, laboratory testing, and rhythm monitoring when appropriate
- Stress testing, vascular testing, or advanced imaging when symptoms suggest blocked arteries or another contributing condition
- Kidney function, electrolytes, sodium levels, and fluid status monitoring
Treatment and care options
- Heart-failure medications tailored to the patient, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, ARNIs, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, or SGLT2 inhibitors when appropriate
- Blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, sleep apnea, rhythm, and kidney-disease management
- Sodium and fluid guidance, weight monitoring, activity planning, and education on warning signs
- Device evaluation, advanced heart-failure referral, or hospital-based care coordination when needed
When to seek urgent care
Call 911 for severe shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, blue lips, sudden confusion, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Schedule a heart failure evaluation with Heart and Vascular Specialists.
