Congestive Heart Failure Specialist

Primary Care Associates of Maryland

Family Medicine & Geriatrics located in Frederick, MD & Clarksburg, MD

Vague symptoms like fatigue, a low appetite, and shortness of breath could indicate your heart’s inability to keep up with your body’s demands. At Primary Care Associates of Maryland, with two locations in Frederick and another in Clarksburg, Maryland, Praveen Bolarum, MD, and the team can diagnose heart failure and help you manage your condition to stop it from worsening. If you have symptoms of heart failure, request an appointment by phone or online at Primary Care Associates of Maryland today.

Congestive Heart Failure Q & A

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a serious condition, but it isn’t as dire as the name makes it sound. In reality, heart failure means your heart can’t adequately pump the amount of blood through your body that it needs. Conditions that can lead to this problem include:

Coronary artery disease (narrowing arteries)
High blood pressure
Congenital disabilities
Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle damage)
Damaged valves
Obesity
Diabetes

Your heart tries to make up for its difficulties by getting larger, developing more muscle, or pumping more quickly. As hard as your heart tries, it can’t remedy the issue with these strategies alone. While not all of the conditions listed are treatable, you can learn to live with them and extend the length of your life.

What are the symptoms of heart failure?

Your heart failure can develop over time with a slow onset of symptoms, or it can appear very suddenly. Possible signs and symptoms of heart failure include:

Fatigue
Weakness
Rapid heart rate
Irregular heart rate
Swelling in your legs or feet
Shortness of breath
Trouble concentrating
Low appetite

If you notice that your symptoms are worsening or if new symptoms appear, you should book an appointment at Primary Care Associates of Maryland right away. You should also seek immediate care if you have chest pain, cough up foamy mucus, or faint.

How is heart failure treated?

Heart failure is a chronic condition, so you’ll need to manage it for the rest of your life in order to avoid complications or death. In some cases, your doctor can surgically repair a part of your heart that contributes to heart failure, like a broken valve. In other cases, treatments are milder and nonsurgical.

The team at Primary Care Associates of Maryland may prescribe you medications like diuretics to stop your body from retaining water, or beta-blockers to reduce your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. They also help you live a healthier lifestyle to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. You should stop smoking, eat healthy foods, and exercise regularly to help improve your cardiovascular health.

To find out more about heart failure and how to manage it, call Primary Care Associates of Maryland or request an appointment online today.