Diagnosis of Congestive Heart or cardiac failure
Diagnosis of congestive heart failure is usually done based on the patient’s medical history, physical examination and a set of specific investigations.
Symptoms described in the previous section and additional findings like a history of heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, or alcohol abuse may provide clues.
Physical examination focuses on: finding the extra fluid and the associated features like oedema, changes in the neck veins, breath sounds. Auscultation of the heart speaks out the diagnoses to experienced clinicians.
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Useful diagnostic techniques include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Chest X-ray
- Echocardiogram
- Angiography
- Very rarely biopsy of the heart tissue may be performe
- The blood test for BNP (brain natriuretic peptide level) is also helpful. BNP typically elevates during heart failure.
