If you experience sudden, severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, or a rapid worsening of swelling in your legs or abdomen, seek emergency care immediately by calling 000 or attending your nearest emergency department. This page relates to the ongoing specialist management of a known or suspected heart failure diagnosis, not emergency symptoms.
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should, leading to symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue and fluid retention. It is a long term condition that can usually be managed with the right combination of medication, monitoring and lifestyle adjustment.
There are different types of heart failure, depending on whether the heart muscle has become weakened (reduced ejection fraction) or stiffened (preserved ejection fraction). Your cardiologist will identify which type applies to you, as this affects how your condition is managed.
Common symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness, particularly on exertion or when lying flat, persistent fatigue, swelling in the legs, ankles or abdomen, and a reduced ability to exercise. These symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, which is part of why a specialist assessment is useful in clarifying the cause.
Your cardiologist will assess the type and severity of heart failure, review and adjust medications as needed, and monitor your symptoms over time. Diagnostic tests such as echocardiography are often used to assess heart function and guide treatment decisions.
Management is individualised and may change over time as your condition responds to treatment, so regular review is an important part of ongoing care.
Heart failure management works best as an ongoing partnership between your cardiologist and your GP. We provide clear, regular updates so your care stays coordinated between specialist appointments and your day to day care.
Breathlessness, fatigue, swelling in the legs or ankles and difficulty lying flat are common symptoms, though they can also be caused by other conditions. A specialist assessment can help clarify the cause.
Review frequency depends on the severity of your condition and how stable your symptoms are. Your cardiologist will advise an appropriate schedule.
Many patients are managed effectively as outpatients through regular specialist review and medication adjustment, though this depends on individual circumstances.
Sudden, severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, or rapidly worsening swelling should be treated as a medical emergency. Call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department rather than waiting for a scheduled review.
If your GP has recommended a cardiology referral for heart failure assessment or management, ask them to send it directly to BK Heart.
