Heart Failure 
Revival Clinic

Heart Failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, which means it can't meet the body's needs for oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention. Heart failure can develop due to various conditions that damage or overwork the heart, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, or cardiomyopathy.
Advanced Heart Failure refers to the later stages of heart failure when the condition becomes more severe and difficult to manage with standard treatments. In advanced heart failure symptoms become more persistent, hospitalizations may become more frequent, response to conventional therapies, options like mechanical circulatory support (MCS), heart transplantation, or palliative care may be considered.

Causes of Heart Failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs. There are several causes, many of which involve underlying conditions that damage or overwork the heart. Some of the primary causes of heart failure are Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction), Cardiomyopathy, Valvular Heart Disease, Arrhythmias (Irregular Heartbeats), Congenital Heart Defects, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Alcohol and Drug Use, Infections (e.g., Myocarditis), Thyroid Disorders, Sleep Apnea, Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, Nutritional Deficiencies, Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy, Chronic Lung Diseases (e.g., COPD) and Endocrine Disorders. Other contributing factors are aging and genetics.

Symptoms of Heart Failure
The symptoms of heart failure occur when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, causing a buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body. The symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some of the symptoms are Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea), Fatigue and Weakness, Swelling (Edema), Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat (Palpitations), Persistent Cough or Wheezing, Reduced Ability to Exercise, Weight Gain, Nausea and Loss of Appetite and Confusion or Impaired Thinking.

Diagnosing Heart Failure
Diagnosing heart failure typically involves a combination of medical history evaluation, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. These tests help determine the cause, severity, and type of heart failure. Some of the common diagnostic tests used to assess heart failure are Physical Examination, Blood Tests like B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), Complete Blood Count (CBC), Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) or Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Thyroid Function Tests, Liver Function Tests & Arterial Blood Gases (ABG), Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Chest X-ray, Echocardiogram (Echo), Stress Testing, Cardiac MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Cardiac CT (Computed Tomography), Right Heart Catheterization (Pulmonary Artery Catheterization), Coronary Angiography (Cardiac Catheterization), Sleep Studies (Polysomnography) and Genetic Testing. The selection of the required diagnostic tests depends on the evaluation and physical examination by the heart failure specialist.