Can a doctor hear congestive heart failure?

Your doctor can listen to your lungs for signs of fluid buildup (lung congestion) and your heart for whooshing sounds (murmurs) that may suggest heart failure. The doctor may examine the veins in your neck and check for fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs.


Can doctor detect congestive heart failure with stethoscope?

During an exam, your doctor will use a stethoscope to check for fluid in the lungs or listen to the heart to detect abnormal pumping sounds common in CHF.

What does congestive heart failure sound like?

As the disease progresses and the bases fill with fluid, basilar sounds will become diminished or absent with crackles heard in the upper lobes. Early stages of CHF may present with wheezing. As fluid begins to move into the lungs, the bronchioles will constrict in an effort to keep fluid out.


How do doctors check for congestive heart failure?

Diagnostic tests for congestive heart failure may include: Resting or exercise electrocardiogram (also known as EKG, ECG, or stress test) Echocardiogram. Computed tomography (CT) scan.

Can a doctor hear if your heart is healthy?

The closing of your heart's valves makes a "lub dub" noise. The doctor can check your heart and valve health and hear your heart's rate and rhythm by listening to those sounds.


Congestive Heart Failure: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options - St. Mark's Hospital



Can you still have heart problems if your ECG is normal?

You may have a perfectly normal ECG, yet still have a heart condition. If your test is normal but your doctor suspects that you have a heart problem, he may recommend that you have another ECG, or a different type of test to find out for sure.

Will routine blood work show heart problems?

Although not specifically for heart problems, some routine blood tests can provide valuable information about your overall health — including your heart: Complete blood count, or CBC: measures levels of different components of your blood.

How much time do you have with congestive heart failure?

One study says that people with heart failure have a life span 10 years shorter than those who don't have heart failure. Another study showed that the survival rates of people with chronic heart failure were 80% to 90% for one year, but that dropped to 50% to 60% for year five and down to 30% for 10 years.


Do you need to be hospitalized for congestive heart failure?

Your heart has lost some ability to pump blood. This can cause shortness of breath, weakness and fluid retention. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is serious, but many treatments can help you feel better. If you know a lot about CHF, you have a good chance of staying out of the hospital.

Do you feel sick with congestive heart failure?

This often is described as a pounding or racing sensation in the chest. Lack of Appetite or Nausea When the liver and digestive system become congested they fail to receive a normal supply of blood. This can make you feel nauseous or full, even if you haven't eaten.

What type of breath sounds would you hear with congestive heart failure?

The degree of profusion of crackles often reflects the severity of disease. Clinicians have long recognized that crackles often increase in number as congestive heart failure (CHF) worsens, and that crackles are more numerous in late-stage than in early-stage interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).


What are the advanced symptoms of congestive heart failure?

In advanced heart failure, or during acute episodes, symptoms are worse and may include: Severe shortness of breath.
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Advanced Heart Failure Symptoms
  • Feeling tired or short of breath.
  • Swelling (edema or excess fluid) in the feet/ankles and abdomen.
  • Irregular pulse or palpitations.
  • Cough or wheezing.


How do doctors check if your heart is OK?

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG reflects what's happening in different areas of the heart and helps identify any problems with the rhythm or rate of your heart. The ECG is painless and takes around 5-10 minutes to perform.

Can you live 20 years with congestive heart failure?

In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive 5 years. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.


Which are two signs of worsening heart failure?

Signs of Worsening Heart Failure
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
  • Weight gain of three or more pounds in one day.
  • Weight gain of five pounds in one week.
  • Unusual swelling in the legs, feet, hands, or abdomen.
  • A persistent cough or chest congestion (the cough may be dry or hacking)


What is the difference between heart failure and congestive heart failure?

Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn't pumping as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.

What triggers congestive heart failure?

The most common cause of congestive heart failure is coronary artery disease. Risk factors for coronary artery disease include: high levels of cholesterol and/or triglyceride in the blood. high blood pressure. poor diet.


What is the most common treatment for congestive heart failure?

Surgery. Medicines are the main treatment for heart failure, but for some people surgery may help. Operations that can help with heart failure include: heart valve surgery.

What is the best thing to do for congestive heart failure?

Limit foods high in trans fat, cholesterol, and sugar. Reduce total daily intake of calories to lose weight if necessary. Exercise regularly. A regular cardiovascular exercise program, prescribed by your doctor, will help improve your strength and make you feel better.

What blood tests confirm heart failure?

BNP (B-type natriuretic peptides) tests – these show the level of a hormone in your blood which if elevated can be a sign of heart failure.


What are the signs of an unhealthy heart?

Symptoms
  • Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina)
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly area or back.
  • Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed.


How do I check myself for heart disease?

You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. You can also monitor yourself for symptoms of heart disease, such as: Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or tightness. Being short of breath.

Does a good EKG mean no heart problems?

EKG or ECG alone is not a perfect predictor of a future heart attack of a low-risk person. So it is possible to get a heart attack even after getting a normal EKG. The reason is, it can not show asymptomatic blockage in your arteries.


What heart problems can an EKG miss?

An EKG Has Limits

It measures heart rate and rhythm—but it doesn't necessarily show blockages in the arteries unless they are causing acute loss of blood flow to the heart muscle.