Your Top Cardiovascular Specialists in Pittsburgh, PA
Heart Failure
Your heart is the epicenter of your circulatory system, and you might even say it’s what keeps your body operational. You rely on your heart to pump blood from your head to your toes, supplying them with the oxygen they need to function. When your heart is compromised by heart failure, your health -- and even your life -- can become at risk.
At Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC, we work as a team with your primary physician to diagnose and treat all types of cardiovascular disorders, including congestive heart failure. We have the specialized skills and advanced training to provide comprehensive heart disease treatment, and to prescribe medication for heart attack prevention to those who are at risk.
As an independent group of medical specialists who provide cardiovascular care for office and hospital patients, we make every effort to deliver personalized, professional services to each person we see. If you’re ready to receive the best care available in Pittsburgh for your hypertension, schedule your first appointment with Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC.
Experienced Heart Disease Specialists
Expert, Cutting-Edge Treatment for Heart Failure
Your heart is actually a muscle, like those in your arms and legs. Heart failure is a condition in which this muscle cannot perform its job of pumping blood throughout your body the way it should. When your blood flow is compromised, that blood can begin to back up, and fluid can enter your lungs, “congesting” them. This is why this type of heart failure is often called “congestive heart failure.”
Why does this happen? Heart failure and blood pressure are related. Oftentimes, heart failure occurs as a result of other untreated heart conditions, including coronary artery disease and hypertension which weaken or stiffen the heart over time. Depending on the cause and nature of the case, heart failure can be chronic (occurring frequently over time) or acute (occurring suddenly and severely).
Heart failure signs and symptoms usually include:
- Chronic coughing or wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Blood in the mucus (white or pink)
- Swollen lower extremities
- Swollen abdomen
- Fluid buildup and weight gain
- Irregular heartbeat
- Nausea
- Difficulty eating
- Difficulty exercising
- Difficulty concentrating or staying alert
If heart failure is caused by a sudden heart attack, you may also experience chest pain. If you feel you may be having a heart attack, get help and receive emergency care as soon as possible.
If you’re in need of treatment and monitoring for your chronic heart failure, the team at Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC can help. Our Clinical Cardiology services can help you address the underlying cause of your heart failure and manage your symptoms using heart failure medications. In some cases, we can provide Interventional Cardiology procedures to assist parts of your heart that are failing.
To ensure the safety of you surgical procedure, pre-operative cardiac evaluation is often recommended to decrease risk. Our team at Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC will work with your surgeon to optimize your cardiac care during and after the surgical procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is heart failure an emergency?
In a case of acute heart failure -- often brought on by a heart attack -- you will need emergency care as soon as possible. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s time to call for emergency help:
- Sudden chest pain
- Fainting
- Severe weakness
- Rapid heart beat
- Severe shortness of breath
- Pink or white foamy mucus coughed from the mouth
How is heart failure diagnosed?
At Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC, we utilize a number of cutting-edge techniques and technologies to provide accurate diagnoses for patients with cardiac concerns. When diagnosing heart failure, we utilize:
- Echocardiography
- CT Scans
- Angiography
- Exercise Stress Tests
To learn more, read our page on Diagnostic Cardiology & Nuclear Imaging.
How can I get started with the best cardiologist near me?
The team atShadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC wants to make scheduling your first appointment with us as easy as possible. Just use our online tool to schedule with us, or give us a call at (412) 688-6414.