Congestive Heart Failure

Would you like to know what lab results mean? DDxHub - Differential Diagnosis Hub helps to understand and explains your blood test.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart function as a pump is inadequate to deliver oxygen rich blood to the body. Congestive heart failure can be caused by: diseases that weaken the heart muscle; diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscles; diseases that increase oxygen demand by the body tissue beyond the capability of the heart to deliver adequate oxygen-rich blood; A complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to fill with or eject blood. It is a major and growing public health problem. It is the only cardiovascular disease that is increasing in incidence and prevalence, partly because the population is aging, but also because of improved cardiovascular interventions for disease processes that reduce early mortality but may result in cardiac changes that lead to heart failure. The key manifestations are dyspnea and fatigue, which may limit exercise tolerance, and fluid retention, which may lead to pulmonary congestion and peripheral edema. Diagnosis is largely clinical; a thorough history and physical examination should be obtained to identify cardiac and noncardiac disorders or behaviors that might cause CHF or accelerate progression. The single most useful diagnostic test in the evaluation of patients is the comprehensive 2-dimensional echocardiogram coupled with Doppler flow studies. Measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) can be useful in the evaluation of patients at initial presentation. Interventions that have a proven beneficial impact on patient survival include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists, hydralazine and nitrate, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Symptoms:

Laboratory Test Procedures:

shortness of breath
feel air hunger or drowning
difficulty breathing when lying down
pale skin
fatigue
feet swelling
ankles swelling
abdomen swelling
coughing
coughing at night
cough may bring up mucus
difficulty breathing
trouble sleeping
frequent urination
increased frequency of urination at night
decreased urine output
fast heartbeat
weak, rapid, and thready pulse
nausea
weight loss
chest pain
confusion
forgetfulness
grunting, gurgling, or wheezing sounds with breathing
S3 gallop
exophthalmos
distention of neck veins

ESR - Sed Rate
Creatinine Clearance
WBC
Neutrophil %
Neutrophil Absolute
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
RBC
Phosphate (P - Phosphorus) (URINE TEST)
Phosphorus
DDxHub Differential Diagnosis online system provides with more lab test procedures...

You have symptoms and blood work results. How do they correlate? What is the health condition? Some disorders have similar signs and laboratory values. DDxHub helps to define a right diagnosis. Run DDxHub now and enter symptoms and test results.




All information on this page is intended for your general knowledge only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See Additional Information