Heart Failure

Congestive Heart Failure From Heart Disease in the Los Angeles Area

Congestive heart failure, heart attack or myocardial infarction from heart disease is the inability of your heart to supply oxygenated blood to your body tissues, causing poor circulation in your tissue. Symptoms of heart failure may include a reduced capacity for exercise, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, and in the most severe cases, a buildup of fluid in your extremities and lungs that can make breathing difficult even when you’re resting.

What Causes Congestive Heart Failure?

Heart failure is typically caused by a weakened heart muscle and its failure to pump enough blood throughout your body – a systolic dysfunction. It also fails to fill the chambers of your heart with blood, which can lead to very high pressure, a stiff heart muscle and backing up of blood into your lungs – diastolic dysfunction.

The most common factors contributing to heart failure include:

• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Infections
• Inherited conditions of your heart muscle
• Longstanding coronary artery disease

Treatments to Prevent Heart Failure

As a trusted cardiologist to two generations of Los Angelinos, Dr. Jay L. Jordan can recommend a variety of treatments to prevent heart failure after you undergo stress testing. These often include:

• A variety of prescription medications such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone blockers or nitrates to relax your body’s arteries
• Indirect medical treatments to prevent heart failure, such as cholesterol-lowering therapies and blood thinners to prevent blood clots
• Angioplasty or a cardiac bypass to open up your blood circulation
• A more balanced diet with more fruits and vegetables and less red meat
• Cardiovascular exercises to strengthen your body and your heart

If you have survived heart failure, Dr. Jordan can also discuss a variety of devices that he can implant into your heart. These can include:

• A defibrillator to prevent your heart from stopping
• A pacemaker to enable a more efficient and steady heartbeat
• An implantable heart pump if he determines that you are a heart transplant candidate

For more information about congestive heart failure and heart attack, contact Dr. Jay L. Jordan’s office today.

Jay L. Jordan, MD, is an experienced cardiologist and internal medicine physician who provides a comprehensive range of cardiac care services in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Alhambra, Santa Monica, Glendale, Burbank, Calabasas and nearby communities. Take the first step in preventing and controlling heart disease with symptoms such as angina, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, carotid artery disease, chest pain, congestive heart failure, coronary vascular disease, hypertension, palpitations, shortness of breath and stroke. Call Dr. Jay L. Jordan at 310-854-5493 or request an appointment online.