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Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (Expert Forum)
Do I have congestive heart failure?
Answered by
Lee Kirksey, MD - Peripheral Arterial Disease, PAD, Cardiovascular Disease, stroke, treatment, angioplasty, spider veins, laser ablation, wound treatment, surgery, leg pain, Prevention, Varicose veins
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center of the Univ. of Pennsylvania Healthcare Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia - PA
Questions in the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention forum are answered by Dr. Lee Kirksey, associate professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Do I have congestive heart failure?
by DownunderNZ, Jun 10, 2009 09:23PM
Hi
I am a 47 year old male and had a period of about 3 months where I was continuosly coughing, breathless, fatigued, clammy after exertion and fluid retention. Dr's assumed bronchitis and or asthma, no amount of antibiotics/steroids resolved this and my peak flow reading became progressively worst, down to 180-200. My symptoms have been a consistent cough, fluid on the lungs and in then abdomen swelling and some pain in the stomach area. I had to sleep propped up on 3-4 pillows. My Father died of congestive heart failure at 55 years of age. My Dr put me on diuretic and in a few days my cough was reduced and I lost 6 kgs.
My blood pressure had been normal months ago but at the last Dr appt was 186/140. At this point I was referred to a hospital outpatients and a necg, echo and chest x-ray and bloods. None of this showed anything major apart from some remodelling of the left ventricle. Hoever due to symptoms and increase in bp I have been placed on Atentotol and Accupril and Frusemide. This has made a difference in the past 5 weeks and I have been able to stay up past 7.30pm at night, however if I miss the diuretic I can increase 2-3 kgs in a day, I did miss for 2 days and increased 9kgs!
My Dr is confused by the fact that the bloods etc arent showing any real damage but that the symptoms are quite marked.
Would appreciate your comments.
I am a 47 year old male and had a period of about 3 months where I was continuosly coughing, breathless, fatigued, clammy after exertion and fluid retention. Dr's assumed bronchitis and or asthma, no amount of antibiotics/steroids resolved this and my peak flow reading became progressively worst, down to 180-200. My symptoms have been a consistent cough, fluid on the lungs and in then abdomen swelling and some pain in the stomach area. I had to sleep propped up on 3-4 pillows. My Father died of congestive heart failure at 55 years of age. My Dr put me on diuretic and in a few days my cough was reduced and I lost 6 kgs.
My blood pressure had been normal months ago but at the last Dr appt was 186/140. At this point I was referred to a hospital outpatients and a necg, echo and chest x-ray and bloods. None of this showed anything major apart from some remodelling of the left ventricle. Hoever due to symptoms and increase in bp I have been placed on Atentotol and Accupril and Frusemide. This has made a difference in the past 5 weeks and I have been able to stay up past 7.30pm at night, however if I miss the diuretic I can increase 2-3 kgs in a day, I did miss for 2 days and increased 9kgs!
My Dr is confused by the fact that the bloods etc arent showing any real damage but that the symptoms are quite marked.
Would appreciate your comments.
Doctor's Answer
by Lee Kirksey, MD, Jun 11, 2009 10:53AM
, Jun 11, 2009 10:53AMTo: DownunderNZ
Hello
Im glad youre feeling better. It does sound like congestive heart failure with fluid overload. It sounds like your doctors are on the right course. It is important to tightly control your BP to prevent recurrence of this process and to prevent further strain on your heart and blood vessels. Remodeling is a sign of this strain. Given your fathers problems, your doctors should be aggressive to this end
As you may know, CHF increases your chance of having a heart attack from the strain to your heart muscle.
I appplaud you for taking control of your health and I encourage you to be insistent about adequate treatment of your heart condition. Gooday Mate
Im glad youre feeling better. It does sound like congestive heart failure with fluid overload. It sounds like your doctors are on the right course. It is important to tightly control your BP to prevent recurrence of this process and to prevent further strain on your heart and blood vessels. Remodeling is a sign of this strain. Given your fathers problems, your doctors should be aggressive to this end
As you may know, CHF increases your chance of having a heart attack from the strain to your heart muscle.
I appplaud you for taking control of your health and I encourage you to be insistent about adequate treatment of your heart condition. Gooday Mate
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