Heart Failure Specialist

Heart failure is a chronic disease that affects your heart’s ability to pump blood throughout your body. Though it’s a progressive condition, you can live a productive life with heart failure when you have help from board-certified cardiovascular disease physician Sanjay Srivatsa, MD, and the team at Heart, Artery, and Vein Center in Fresno and Madera, California. They take an individualized approach to care, creating plans that focus on your whole health, not just your heart condition. To schedule a heart failure consultation, call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure (CHF), means your heart can’t adequately pump blood to meet your body’s needs. 

Despite how it sounds, heart failure doesn’t mean your heart stopped. It means your heart can’t fill up with enough blood to meet your needs, or it’s too weak to pump blood throughout your body.

Heart failure may occur suddenly or develop slowly over time. 

What are the types of heart failure?

Heart failure type depends on the part of the heart that’s no longer functioning as it should. The types of heart failure include:

Left-sided heart failure 

Left-sided heart failure means your heart is too weak or too stiff to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout your body adequately. This is the most common type. A heart attack, coronary artery disease (CAD), or hypertension may cause this type of heart failure.

Right-sided heart failure

With right-sided heart failure, your heart can’t pump enough blood to your lungs for reoxygenation. Left-side heart failure is the most common cause of right-side heart failure. 

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

Heart failure symptoms vary and depend on the type and severity of your disease. Common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fluid retention
• Sudden weight gain
• Leg swelling
• Chest pain
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleepiness
• Increase in urination

Varicose veins may also be a symptom of CHF. Varicose veins are enlarged superficial veins that most often develop on the legs. Though many people consider their varicose veins a cosmetic concern, these damaged veins affect the flow of oxygen-poor blood back to your heart.

What treatments help manage heart failure?

The highly skilled team at Heart, Artery, and Vein Center prioritizes whole-body wellness. When you come in with concerns about heart failure, they perform a thorough evaluation and use advanced diagnostic testing to determine the best treatment for you.

Currently, there’s no cure for heart failure. However, the team can provide a therapeutic plan that improves your symptoms and quality of life. Treatments that help manage heart failure include:

• Heart-healthy diet
• Physical activity
• Weight management
• Smoking cessation
• Stress management
• Medication to manage hypertension
• Diuretics
• Medicine that relaxes blood vessels or slows the heart rate

For severe heart failure, the team may suggest the placement of a pacemaker or mechanical heart pump to support heart muscle function. They may also recommend procedures to treat your varicose veins, improving circulation in your lower extremities. 

Don’t let heart failure keep you from doing the things you love. Call Heart, Artery, and Vein Center or book an appointment online today.