Heart Failure Specialist
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Core Cardiology
Rahul Gaglani, MD
Interventional Cardiology & Vascular Specialist located in Murrieta, CA
Heart failure doesn’t mean your heart is on the verge of failure, but it can become that serious if you don’t recognize the symptoms and seek treatment as soon as possible. At Core Cardiology, board-certified interventional cardiologist Rahul Gaglani, MD, is an expert in diagnosing and treating heart failure, and he's here to develop an aggressive treatment plan to keep you active and healthy. Call the office in Murrieta, California, or schedule an appointment online.
Heart Failure Q & A
What is heart failure?
When heart failure is diagnosed, the heart is still pumping – and not about to immediately fail – but it can’t pump well enough to send enough oxygen-rich blood throughout your body in a normal manner.
Heart failure develops when the heart has been damaged. As a result, it either can’t fill up with sufficient blood or it can’t contract strongly enough to pump all the blood out.
Early treatment to manage the condition is essential because heart failure can’t be cured and it gets progressively worse over time.
What causes heart failure?
A variety of conditions can damage the heart muscle and lead to congestive heart failure including:
- Coronary artery disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Other heart conditions: arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease
- Thyroid disorders
- Treatments for cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Alcohol or drug abuse
Dr. Gaglani can help determine if any chronic conditions you may have put you at risk of heart failure.
What are the warning signs and symptoms of heart failure?
Heart failure is a serious health condition that needs immediate and ongoing care to slow down its progression. Don’t wait to contact Dr. Gaglani if you begin to notice symptoms. The most common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the neck
- Chronic cough
- Nausea or lack of appetite
- Confusion
- Increased heart rate
In the beginning, you may feel tired and short of breath with normal activities, like climbing stairs. As heart failure gets worse, you may not be able to walk across the room without feeling winded.
How is heart failure treated?
Heart failure can’t be cured, but it can be properly managed. Medications are important for treating symptoms, slowing progression, and helping you stay healthy.
Different types of medicines are available and each class has a different effect, so your prescriptions will be matched to the severity of your disease.
Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and stopping smoking will improve your heart’s ability to function. Tracking symptoms is also important so that your treatment plan can be adjusted as soon as symptoms worsen.
Since heart failure progresses slowly, symptoms can sneak up on you, so it’s important to pay attention to subtle changes in your ability to complete daily activities or any changes in your body, such as weight gain.
To learn more about how to protect your heart, schedule an appointment at Core Cardiology by calling or booking online.