Congestive Heart Failure Diagnosis - What It Is - Risk Factors -
Living With - User Questions - Alternative Treatment - Care
Guide - Questions for Your Doctor - When to Contact a Doctor -
Find a Doctor - Resource Guide How to Diagnose Congestive Heart
Failure The first step your doctor will take to assess whether
you have CHF is to discuss your medical history and conduct a
complete physical exam. Afterwards, your doctor may recommend
some or all of the following tests to help make the diagnosis
and assess the degree of damage: Chest X-ray -An x-ray image
will show whether the heart is enlarged, or congestion is
present in the lungs. Blood Tests-To check for anemia, thyroid
disease, elevated cholesterol and blood lipids, and to evaluate
kidney and liver function, electrolytes, and calcium and
magnesium levels. In addition, your doctor will check plasma
levels of BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) as those are elevated
in patients with heart failure. Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
-Records the electrical activity