Congestive Heart Failure (cont.)
Medical Author:
Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAIDr. Kulick received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at the Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center and a fellowship in the section of cardiology at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. In this Article
 How is congestive heart failure diagnosed?The diagnosis of congestive heart failure is most often a clinical one that is based on knowledge of the patient's pertinent medical history, a careful physical examination, and selected laboratory tests. A thorough patient history may disclose the presence of one or more of the symptoms of congestive heart failure described above. In addition, a history of significant coronary artery disease, prior heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, or significant alcohol use can be clues. The physical examination is focused on detecting the presence of extra fluid in the body (breath sounds, leg swelling, or neck veins) as well as carefully characterizing the condition of the heart (pulse, heart size, heart sounds, and murmurs). Useful diagnostic tests include the electrocardiogram (ECG) and chest X-ray to detect previous heart attacks, arrhythmia, heart enlargement, and fluid in and around the lungs. Perhaps the single most useful diagnostic test is the echocardiogram, in which ultrasound is used to image the heart muscle, valve structures, and blood flow patterns. The echocardiogram is very helpful in diagnosing heart muscle weakness. In addition, the test can suggest possible causes for the heart muscle weakness (for example, prior heart attack, and severe valve abnormalities). Virtually all patients in whom the diagnosis of congestive heart failure is suspected should ideally undergo echocardiography early in their assessment. Nuclear medicine studies assess the overall pumping capability of the heart and examine the possibility of inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle. Heart catheterization allows the arteries to the heart to be visualized with angiography (using dye inside of the blood vessels that can be seen using X-ray methods). During catheterization the pressures in and around the heart can be measured and the heart's performance assessed. In rare cases, a biopsy of the heart tissue may be recommended to diagnose specific diseases. This biopsy can often be accomplished through the use of a special catheter device that is inserted into a vein and maneuvered into the right side of the heart. Another helpful diagnostic test is a blood test called a BNP or B-type natriuretic peptid level. This level can vary with age and gender but is typically elevated from heart failure and can aid in the diagnosis, and can be useful in following the response to treatment of congestive heart failure. The choice of tests depends on each patient's case and is based on the suspected diagnoses. Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 6/28/2011 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Congestive Heart Failure - Symptoms
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Congestive Heart Failure - Causes
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Congestive Heart Failure - Lifestyle Changes
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Congestive Heart Failure - Prognosis
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Congestive Heart Failure - Treatment
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