Congestive Heart Failure: Symptoms and Treatment

More than six million Americans have heart failure, which happens when the heart stops pumping blood as it should. At Beaufort Memorial, our heart failure program features a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, specially trained nurses and other experts who work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. Our goal is to not only help you avoid unnecessary hospital stays, but also empower you to make lifestyle changes that will strengthen your heart and improve your overall health.

If you have congestive heart failure or are experiencing symptoms listed below, call 843-770-4550 to make an appointment with a board-certified cardiologist.

Types of Heart Failure

There are three main types of heart failure:

• Left-sided heart failure occurs when the left ventricle of the heart fails to pump out enough blood to the body.
• Right-sided heart failure happens when blood backs up in the heart and damages the right side of the heart. This often occurs after left-sided heart failure has progressed.
• Congestive heart failure, often called just heart failure, occurs when blood backs up into the veins and causes fluids to swell in the lungs and other tissues.

You may be at high risk for developing congestive heart failure if you have a history of one or more of these conditions:

• Congenital heart defects
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes
• Heart attack
• Heart rhythm disorders (including atrial fibrillation)
• Heart valve disease
• High blood pressure
• Lung disease

Signs of Congestive Heart Failure

Symptoms can be difficult to recognize, but they often include a combination of the following:

• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations or increased heart rate
• Nausea or lack of appetite
• Persistent wheezing or coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the feet and legs

Congestive Heart Failure Stages

Heart failure often progresses through four stages:

• Stage A patients are at risk for heart failure but do not yet have the condition.
• Stage B occurs when patients have heart disease but no signs of heart failure.
• Stage C patients have both heart disease and heart failure.
• Stage D patients have advanced, or refractory, heart failure. An estimated 10% of heart failure patients are in this stage, which can signal the end of life or the need for a heart transplant.

Heart Failure Treatment

Most treatment plans for congestive heart failure begin with making healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercising more, quitting smoking, losing weight and eating a low-sodium diet.

Common medications your doctor may prescribe to help your heart pump better and regain strength include:

• Beta-blockers, which can help slow your heart rate and reduce blood pressure
• Diuretics, which limit fluid buildup
• Inotropes or digoxin, which improve the heart's ability to pump blood
• Vasodilators and ACE inhibitors, which help minimize strain on your heart

The cardiac rehabilitation program at Beaufort Memorial is designed to complement and reinforce your cardiologist's prescribed treatment plan. We offer:

• Customized education about heart failure, medications and dietary restrictions
• Medication monitoring
• Ongoing patient assessment, evaluation and lab analysis
• Regular communication with you, your primary care provider, cardiologist and other specialists about your care plan