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Medical Video: Congestive Heart Failure - The Basics
Definition
What is a physical examination for heart failure?
Although heart failure is a common disease in the elderly, the diagnosis is often overlooked. Medical history is an important thing to know. In addition to the symptoms of heart failure, you should also know about some symptoms that refer to certain syndromes, such as coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease), hypertension, or valvular heart disease. It is very important to know whether the patient has had a heart problem before, for example myocardial infarction.
The first step taken to diagnose heart failure is to detail your medical history. The medical history includes your past or current health condition. A patient's blood pressure and heart rate must be properly recorded. Blood pressure that appears can be high, normal, and low. The prognosis is not good for patients whose blood pressure is low from 90 to 100 mm when taking treatment (angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) beta blockers or duretics inhibitors).
When should I undergo a physical examination for heart failure?
An examination of heart failure is needed if chest pain occurs. Physical examination is a routine examination of heart problems.
Prevention & warning
What should I know before undergoing a physical examination for heart failure?
Diagnosing heart failure earlier is the best thing to do to prevent the appearance of myocardial dysfunction and clinical deterioration. However, the initial diagnosis is rather difficult because heart failure can occur when no symptoms appear until pulmonary edema occurs with cardiogenic shock. It is estimated that heart failure can be correctly diagnosed when 50% of symptoms occur in patients. A systematic approach can affect the accuracy of the diagnosis.
Process
What should I do before undergoing a physical examination for heart failure?
You should tell your doctor about your medical history (diagonist and treatment) in detail and in full. Even though the disease has healed and you don't think it is important, the condition will help your doctor diagnose pain in the waist. This medical history also helps your doctor to decide on the right treatment for you. In addition to medical history, you also have to tell your doctor what medication information you have taken. If possible, bring a complete list of these medicines and their dosages.
What is the process of physical examination for heart failure?
In addition to the health conditions that you have or are experiencing, your doctor may want to know what causes heart failure to occur to you. Coronary artery disease (CAD) can cause heart failure, so other things that cause CAD occur are also a trigger factor for heart failure, such as you are a man, smoking habits, diabetes, high cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), high blood pressure , and elderly.
During a health and physical examination, the doctor will ask about some of the symptoms you are experiencing (eg difficulty breathing, swelling, and coughing), pain that you have or are currently having (such as a heart attack, viral illness, high blood pressure, and diabetes) , physical activity that you do, breathe, eat, sleep, and other routine activities.
Following are the general physical examination steps to detect heart failure:
- measure pulse and blood pressure
- check the veins in the neck, if there is swelling or high blood pressure in the vessels that drain blood back to the heart. This swelling indicates that the right heart fails to function or worse, the left heart also fails
- check breathing (in the lungs)
- check heart rate, is there any other sound that appears besides the heartbeat (murmur)
- examine the swollen abdomen due to fluid buildup or pain in the liver
- check the legs and wrist for swelling due to fluid (edema)
- measure weight
What should I do after undergoing a physical examination for heart failure?
the okter will explain your health condition and provide the right treatment. Sometimes, the doctor will give another examination. Follow the instructions given by your doctor. If the results of a physical test and medical history indicate heart failure, you should take an X-ray test on the chest. Echocardiogram, and electrocardiography to evaluate the size, shape, and function of the heart, as well as knowing fluid buildup.
Explanation of Test Results
What do the test results mean?
Normal results:
Normal heart and lung sounds, normal blood pressure, and no symptoms of fluid buildup or swelling of the neck veins.
You may need another examination or test to find out other causes of symptoms that appear.
Results that indicate heart failure:
- high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or more) or low blood pressure. Low blood pressure can be a symptom of failed heart disease before the end of the stage
- unusual heart rate (cardiac arrhythmia)
- another beeping sound from the heart (indicating abnormal movement). It could be the sound that comes from a murmur
- normal impulses felt in the heart no longer feel in the heart and chest wall, this indicates a heart swelling
- swelling of the arteries that causes blood to return to the right ventricle.
- other voices from the lungs that are abnormal may be due to fluid buildup. Usually the doctor uses a stethoscope to detect it
- there is swelling of the liver or the right side of the abdomen which results in loss of appetite or flatulence
- swelling of the thighs, knees and feet when you lie down. However, this can also be caused by other factors. The more the heart gets worse, the buildup of this liquid will also not disappear
In some people, the initial symptoms of heart failure may not occur.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
