Built by the HF Community for Those Living With HF
DEVELOPED WITH PATIENTS, PATIENT ORGANISATIONS, AND
CARE PARTNERS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH HEART FAILURE
How is heart failure diagnosed?
Getting diagnosed starts with a conversation with your doctor
Everyone has a different story about how their heart failure was diagnosed. Some people may have recognised their own symptoms and discussed them with their doctor. For others, it may have been a family member or friend who noticed something unusual. Or maybe a doctor suspected heart failure during a routine physical exam.
No matter how the heart failure conversation starts, there are several questions your doctor will ask to help figure out what’s going on with your heart and how to treat it. First, your doctor will want to know if you:
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Have a family history of heart disease or heart failure, and if so, which family member was diagnosed and at what age
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Have other conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, angina, high blood pressure, or other heart problems
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Smoke
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Drink alcohol
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Take other medications
Your doctor will also do a physical exam. He or she will look for signs of heart failure, as well as other illnesses that may have weakened your heart.
Tests provide valuable insights
Your doctor may suggest tests to help find the causes of your heart failure and see how severe it is.
Blood tests
These tests will check your kidney and thyroid gland and measure your cholesterol levels. They will also determine if you have anaemia, a condition that may occur when you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells.
Echocardiogram
This test, often called an ‘echo,’ shows your heart’s movement. During this exam, your doctor places a wand on your chest. This wand sends ultrasound waves that allow you to see pictures of your heart’s valves and chambers. These images allow your doctor to see how well your heart is pumping.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
blood test
BNP is a specific blood test that looks for ‘brain natriuretic peptide,’ a substance that your heart releases when heart failure develops. Levels of this substance can be higher in people with heart failure. This test can be used to help figure out if a person’s shortness of breath is caused by heart failure.
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
An EKG/ECG test records the electrical activity of your heart through electrodes attached to your skin. It helps your doctor diagnose heart rhythm problems and heart damage.
Chest x-ray
A chest x-ray shows the size of your heart. It also lets your doctor know if there is a buildup of fluid around your heart and lungs.
Holter monitoring
A Holter monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records your heart’s activity (ECG) continuously for 24 to 48 hours, or longer. It allows your doctor to evaluate your heartbeat over time while you go about your normal activities, to see if you have a slow, fast, or uneven heartbeat.
