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Heart Failure
Alternate Names : CHF, Congestive Heart Failure
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Heart Failure Diagnosis & Tests
A physical examination may reveal either an irregular or a rapid heartbeat. There may be distended neck veins, enlarged liver, peripheral edema (swelling of the limbs), and signs of pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs).
Listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation) may reveal lung crackles or abnormal heart sounds. Blood pressure may be normal, elevated or low.
Enlargement of the heart or decreased heart functioning may be seen on several tests, including the following: This disease may also alter the following test results: If excessive fluid has accumulated around the sac surroundig the heart (pericardium), you may need to have the fluid removed through a pericardiocentesis.
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• Definition
• Heart Failure Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Heart Failure Symptoms & Signs
• Heart Failure Prevention
• Heart Failure Diagnosis & Tests
• Heart Failure Treatment
• Heart Failure Prognosis
• Heart Failure Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Alcoholism
• Anemia
• Angina - Stable
• Arrhythmias
• Atrial Myxoma - Left
• Cardiomyopathy
• Digitalis Toxicity
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Heart Disease
• Hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism
• Kidney Disease
• Left-Sided Heart Failure
• Pleural Effusion
• Pulmonary Edema
• Right-Sided Heart Failure
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Tests & Exams
• Blood Pressure
• BUN
• CBC
• CHEM-20
• Chest X-Ray
• Coronary Angiography
• Creatinine - Serum
• Creatinine Clearance
• Dialysis
• ECG
• Echocardiogram
• Liver Function Tests
• Nuclear Ventriculography (MUGA or RNV)
• Pericardiocentesis
• Pulse
• Serum Sodium
• Swan-Ganz - Right Heart Catheterization
• Thoracic CT
• Uric Acid
• Urinalysis
Surgery & Procedures
• Heart Transplant
Other Topics
• Abdomen - Swollen
• Alcohol Use
• Appetite - Decreased
• Auscultation
• Blood Pressure - Low
• Breathing Difficulty
• Chest Pain
• Chronic
• Consciousness - Decreased
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Foot, Leg, and Ankle Swelling
• Headache
• Heart Murmurs and Other Sounds
• Heartbeat Sensations
• Heartburn
• Hepatomegaly
• Indigestion
• Intravenous
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Obesity
• Physical Examination
• Sleeping Difficulty
• Swelling
• Systemic
• Urination - Excessive at Night
• Urine Output - Decreased
• Weakness
• Weight Gain - Unintentional
• Weight Loss - Unintentional
Review Date : 10/31/2001
Reviewed By : Elena Sgarbossa, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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