When the heart does not work effectively enough to meet the body’s needs, shortness of breath and swelling may occur.
When to seek emergency care
If any of the following signs occur, call *3003 immediately — do not wait for a routine appointment:
- Shortness of breath at rest
- Waking at night with a feeling of suffocation
- Significant weight gain and swelling over a short period
- Chest pain or fainting
What is it?
Heart failure may follow a heart attack, long-standing high blood pressure, valve disease, rhythm disorders or disease of the heart muscle. Management aims to identify the cause, reduce fluid retention, ease the heart’s workload and prevent repeated deterioration.
Symptoms
- Breathlessness when climbing stairs
- Swelling of the feet and ankles
- Fatigue
- Worse breathing when lying flat
- Palpitations
- A feeling of suffocation at night
Causes & risk factors
- Coronary artery disease
- Previous heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Valve disease
- Atrial fibrillation
- Cardiomyopathy
- Kidney disease
Diagnosis
Diagnosis should not rely on one test alone. Symptoms, risk factors, physical examination and investigation results are interpreted together.
- Echocardiography
- ECG
- NT-proBNP and other blood tests
- Chest X-ray
- Coronary assessment if an ischemic cause is suspected
- Rhythm monitoring
Treatment approaches
Treatment is individualized according to the severity of the disease, the patient’s overall condition, coexisting diseases and procedural risk.
- Heart failure medication
- Salt and fluid control
- Blood pressure and rhythm management
- Revascularization when coronary disease is the cause
- Device therapy in selected cases
- Intensive care during decompensation
How we help
At the center, the cause of heart failure is investigated and the level of risk is determined from echocardiography and laboratory tests. When necessary, the interventional cardiology, arrhythmology and intensive care teams make a joint decision.
When a procedure may be needed
A procedure or intensive monitoring may be needed in the presence of coronary artery disease, a valve problem, a severe rhythm disorder or recurrent decompensation.
Patient checklist
- Monitor body weight daily
- Track swelling and breathlessness
- Do not stop medication without medical advice
- Limit salt intake as recommended by your physician
FAQ
Can heart failure be cured?
It depends on the cause. In many patients symptoms can be controlled and quality of life improved with proper therapy and follow-up.
Why is daily weight important?
Rapid weight gain can be an early sign of fluid retention.
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