Congestive Heart Failure (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Congestive Heart Failure Overview
- Congestive Heart Failure Causes
- Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Congestive Heart Failure Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Congestive Heart Failure - Symptoms Experienced
Support Groups and Counseling
Having the support of health care providers, family, and
friends is essential to effectively coordinate all of the needs of a person with heart failure.
People with severe heart failure have special needs beyond standard medical care.
- Advance directives
are legal documents that tell doctors and hospitals what treatments you might
not want, should you become unable to speak for yourself.
- A living will provides
instructions while you are still alive, for example, if you have specific
wishes if your heart or breathing stops.
- A medical durable power of attorney allows someone you designate to make medical decisions on your
behalf, if you become unable to make these decisions.
- Hospice care may be required when you and your physicians agree that your prognosis for survival is poor. Professional hospice caregivers emphasize pain control and emotional support.
Next: For More Information »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Congestive Heart Failure - Symptoms Experienced
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
For congestive heart failure, what were the symptoms and signs you experienced?
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Heart Failure »
Heart failure is the pathophysiologic state in which the heart, via an abnormality of cardiac function (detectable or not), fails to pump blood at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolizing tissues and/or pumps only from an abnormally elevated diastolic filling pressure.
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