Causes of congestive heart failure

PREVIEW

Dyspnea on exertion is a well-recognized symptom of congestive heart failure (CHF) but is nonspecific in that it can also result from pulmonary diseases, obesity, anxiety, and other conditions. Physical examination findings can be similarly nonspecific in cases of CHE However, establishing the diagnosis as either systolic or diastolic heart failure and determining the underlying cause are important, since treatment can reverse the disease in some cases. The authors describe the conditions that lead to this progressive disease and summarize cost-effective patient evaluation.