Heart failure, known sometimes as congestive heart failure, describes the result of a condition when the heart muscle cannot pump a sufficient amount of blood through the body. Some conditions, such as high blood pressure or narrowed arteries in the heart gradually lead the heart to become too stiff or weak to fill completely and pump efficiently.
Heart failure is a syndrome that can be caused by various conditions. Eventually, the heart is weakened up to a point where it can’t pump enough blood through the systemic circulation (left heart failure) or the lungs (right heart failure). So therefore it doesn't mean that it has stopped working, instead the pumping of blood is weaker than normal. The disorders which lead to a heart failure cannot all completely be healed, however the right treatment plan can help to alleviate the symptoms and signs of a heart failure. This in turn can help the patient to live longer than it would be the case without a treatment. With heart failure, blood moves at a slower rate through the heart and body, triggering an increase of the pressure in the heart. The result is that the heart cannot pump enough nutrients and oxygen to meet the body's needs. Heart failure is the major cause of hospitalization in people older than age 65.
A left heart failure causes difficulty in breathing and coughing, first during physical strain, eventually also in an idle state. If the condition progresses further, the patient might only be able to breathe properly while sitting down or with propped-up arms. Other symptoms of left heart failure are reduced performance, weakness and memory impairment. Symptoms of right heart failure include swollen ankles, weight gain and sometimes a painful liver enlargement. Both forms of heart failure cause the patient to feel the need to go to the toilet frequently at night and heart palpitations.
There are numerous options available to treat this condition. The first steps include tight control over the lifestyle and medications of the patient to introduce suitable measures in addition to a careful monitoring. More advanced options of treatment can be offered by doctors specializing in the treatment of heart failure as the condition evolves. The objective of the treatment is to decrease the progression of the disease, to alleviate symptoms, and to enhance quality of life as unfortunately there is no complete cure for heart failure. The patient and his doctor can determine together the best option of treatment for him. It is recommended to talk to a general practitioner or a cardiologist.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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