Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I would like to know if an elderly patient that has bronchitis like symptoms and is feeling extremely ill and weak (to the extent that she cannot stand up or walk) is sent by her general practitioner for a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia and the report comes back with the following interpretation, is this suggestive of possible heart failure? If so, what needs to be done next? INTERPRETATION: "There is marked cardiomegaly; The costophrenic angles are blunted bilaterally; No acute pulmonary infiltrates are noted". Please explain in as much detail as possible what should be done for this patient and what is the next step. Should this patient be hospitalized for observation and testing?
Thanks much for your help.
Answer -
Yes, that is indicative of heart failure but the doctor would look at the recency of the onset and the severity of the symptoms to decide to admit or treat as an outpatient.
The treatment varies depending on the cause, viral, alcohol, age or b complex vitamin deficiency.
Thanks for response. The age of the patient is 79 and the cause of the heart failure would be poorly controlled high blood pressure for over 12 years (160s/80s - 150s/80s). What would be best treatment in this case.
AnswerThe standard of care would be to control the BP without weakening the heart muscle.
In addition, we would look at the patient's overall nutritional status including giving high potency B complex (B-50) twice a day, cutting out omega 6 and gluten from the diet, adding magnesium oxide 250-500mg twice a day, calcium carbonate with Vit D twice a day, vit C 1000mg twice a day and adding omega 3 2000mg twice a day to improve the hearts function. Cut out alcohol and tobacco if being used.
