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What Does Shortness Of Breath In A Person With Congestive Heart Disease Indicate?
Question: I have congestive heart disease. I had bypass surgery six years ago. Beginning to experience shortness of breath. Would like to visit a different cardiologist for opinions on what to do.
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
Congestive heart failure is a common complication of ischemic heart disease and bypass surgery. You are experiencing a new onset shortness of breath (dyspnea). Dyspnea is a direct sign of worsening of congestive heart failure but it may be also a sign of new onset chest pain and myocardial ischemia (bypass graft reclosure).
It's important to see as soon as possible a cardiologist. If dyspnea is becoming more intense you should go to Er for an immediate evaluation.
If you aren't satisfied with your cardiologist, or he refuse to see you soon, you can see a different cardiologist.
If you were my patient i would recommend to do the following examinations:
- ECG
- Cardiac ECHO
- Stress echo
If these preliminary test show any sign of new onset ischemia (especially stress ECHO) I would recommend to do angiography in order to exclude bypass graft rclosure.
Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
Congestive heart failure is a common complication of ischemic heart disease and bypass surgery. You are experiencing a new onset shortness of breath (dyspnea). Dyspnea is a direct sign of worsening of congestive heart failure but it may be also a sign of new onset chest pain and myocardial ischemia (bypass graft reclosure).
It's important to see as soon as possible a cardiologist. If dyspnea is becoming more intense you should go to Er for an immediate evaluation.
If you aren't satisfied with your cardiologist, or he refuse to see you soon, you can see a different cardiologist.
If you were my patient i would recommend to do the following examinations:
- ECG
- Cardiac ECHO
- Stress echo
If these preliminary test show any sign of new onset ischemia (especially stress ECHO) I would recommend to do angiography in order to exclude bypass graft rclosure.
Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Is there any alternative to further surgery?
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
If during angiography a coronary or arterial graft blockage is seen, there can be done a coronary stenting procedure. Although it's not a surgical procedure it's still an invasive procedure.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
If during angiography a coronary or arterial graft blockage is seen, there can be done a coronary stenting procedure. Although it's not a surgical procedure it's still an invasive procedure.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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