What is Congestive Heart Failure ? Symptoms and Diagnosis

Congestive heart failue is a condition is which the heart lacks the function

as a pump to deliver oxygen rich blood to the body. It can be caused due to

a. some diseases that weaken the heart muscle
b. diseases that increase oxygen demand from the body tissues beyond the heart's ability to provide adequate oxygen-rich blood.

c. diseases that cause stiffening of muscles of the heart

Symptoms Of Congestive Heart Failure : 

There are many symptoms of Congestive heart failure but the most primary symptom includes fatigue. It is a most sensitive indicator of congestive heart failure. The person's ability to work and exercise can diminish and patient may not even sense this sudden decrease. In Congestive heart failure the body become overloaded wit fluids another symptom includes swelling of the legs and ankles. In addition shortness of breath during exercise and when lying flat is another symptom of Congestive heart failure some times patient can be awakened at night, gasping for the the air.

Diagnosis Of Congestive Heart Failure :

Following are the main points through which Congestive heart failure can easily be diagnose.

1. Presence of fluid in the body, leg swelling, short breathing, neck veins and condition of the heart (sound of the heart, size of heart and pulse).

2. The test includes in diagnoses of Congestive heart failure includes Chest x-ray, previous heart attacks (if any), fluid in body, and the most effective is ECG in which Ultrasound is used to diagnose to see structure of valves, blood pressure flow and heart muscles.

3. Another helpful test includes brain natriuretic peptide level which is actually a blood test to diagnose Congestive heart failure.