About-Cardio
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We provide our users the most up-to-date and accurate information on the treatment and prevention of cardio pathologies in accordance with current American and European clinical guidelines.
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Heart Failure Tests and Diagnosis
Introduction
Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently to meet the body's needs. Diagnosing heart failure involves a combination of clinical assessment, laboratory tests, imaging, and functional evaluations.
Key Diagnostic Tests
1. Clinical Evaluation
- Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, rapid heartbeat.
- Medical history: Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease.
- Physical examination: Detection of fluid retention, lung congestion, abnormal heart sounds.
2. Laboratory Tests
- B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) or NT-proBNP: Elevated levels suggest heart failure.
- Blood tests: Check kidney and liver function, anemia, thyroid hormones, electrolytes.
3. Imaging Studies
- Echocardiography: Primary test to assess heart function, ejection fraction, valve abnormalities.
- Chest X-ray: Identifies fluid in the lungs and heart enlargement.
- Cardiac MRI: Provides detailed heart structure and function analysis.
4. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Detects rhythm abnormalities, previous heart attacks, or electrical conduction problems.
5. Exercise or Stress Tests
- Evaluates heart performance under physical stress, helps detect ischemic causes.
6. Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography
- Helps assess blood vessel blockages and measure heart pressures in complex cases.
Conclusion
Several tests are crucial to accurately diagnose heart failure and determine its severity. Proper diagnosis allows for effective treatment strategies, including medications, lifestyle modifications, and possible surgical interventions.
Source recommendations
1. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001063
- https://www.acc.org/Guidelines
- https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.12.024
- https://www.acc.org/education-and-meetings/products-and-resources/features/global-cv-institute/heart-failure-guidelines
- https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/-/media/832EA0F4E73948848612F228F7FA2D35.ashx
2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Acute-and-Chronic-Heart-Failure
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34447992/
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Focused-Update-on-Heart-Failure-Guidelines
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/42/36/3599/6358045
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27206819/
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If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in time. Remember that self-medication can be dangerous, and timely diagnosis will preserve the quality and life expectancy.
The heart is an organ that does not know how to "keep silent" if something goes wrong. Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and rhythm disturbances are the symptoms that require our attention. The best prevention of heart disease is careful attention to your health, regular checkups with a doctor, and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your heart, and it will serve you for many years!
Our advantages:
Best practices from USA, EU and Japan
Our answers to your questions are based on the clinical recommendations of countries with the most developed healthcare systems in the field of cardiology in the USA, the EU and Japan.
Always up-to-date information
On a daily basis, we monitor for you all new scientific research publications in leading scientific journals on medical issues of interest to you.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
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Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.