Heart Failure

Heart failure causes your heart muscle to weaken, so it can’t pump blood efficiently. If you have heart failure symptoms, like shortness of breath and chest pain, visit board-certified cardiovascular specialist Shahnaz Begum, MD, FACC, at Heart Care in Frisco, Texas. Dr. Begum is an expert in treating heart failure using the most advanced techniques. To benefit from her experience, call Heart Care or book an appointment online today.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure (or congestive heart failure) affects how your heart pumps blood. It develops when your heart muscle, which contracts and releases to pump blood around the body, is too weak. You could develop systolic heart failure or diastolic heart failure.  You could also develope left ventricular failure or right ventricular failure. 

Blood delivers vital oxygen and nutrition to your organs and tissues. If you have heart failure, insufficient blood flow deprives your body of oxygen and nutrients, so it can’t function properly. Blood also collects in your lungs, limbs, and gastrointestinal tract.

Why do I have heart failure?

Heart failure can develop because of:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Arrhythmia
• Lung disease
• Cardiac tumors
• Valve disorders
• Structural heart abnormalities
• Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease)
• Postpartum cardiomyopathy
• Pregnancy-related heart disease
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)

CAD is a leading cause of heart failure. It results from excess cholesterol in your blood that forms a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque builds up along the insides of the arteries, making them so narrow that it limits blood flow.

You’re more likely to have heart failure as you get older or if you have a chronic disease like diabetes. High cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise, and excess body weight are all risk factors for heart failure.

Intense medical treatments like chemotherapy can also increase your likelihood of experiencing heart problems. Consequently, Dr. Begum and the Heart Care team can provide heart function assessments for patients receiving chemotherapy.

What symptoms does heart failure cause?

Common heart failure symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Edema (water retention) and swelling
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite

• Bulging neck veins
• Infrequent urination
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty sleeping
• Cold limbs when resting
• Lightheadedness
• Syncope (fainting)

Heart failure symptoms vary depending on the cause. Sometimes, people experience few or no symptoms until heart failure reaches an advanced stage.

How is heart failure treated?

At Heart Care, Dr. Begum designs a personalized treatment plan for you following a physical exam and diagnostic testing. Your plan might include:

Lifestyle changes

Because heart failure’s root causes often lie in an unhealthy lifestyle, making changes are essential. You might need to alter your diet to make it heart-friendly, exercise more often, quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, or lose weight.

Medications

Medications help improve heart function and blood flow, reducing heart failure symptoms.

Implantable devices

Implantable devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, help regulate your heartbeat. Defibrillators also sense heart rhythm abnormalities and correct them.

Call Heart Care or book an appointment online today for an accurate diagnosis and high-quality heart failure treatment.