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A member asked:

How do physician differentiate between a heart problem and a fluid problem?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

History & Exam: If there is congestive heart failure, it is a heart problem. Congestive heart failure is diagnosed by a thorough history and physical examination. Feet/ankle swelling without congestive heart failure would be attributed to excess fluid +/- venous insufficiency (problem with the veins).

Answered 8/26/2011

6.4k views

Thank
Dr. Rick Koch answered

Clinically: And by a variety of testing...Chest cray, ekg, echocardiogram, stress testing & sometimes angiogram.

Dr Skylizard and another doctor agreed

Answered 9/17/2013

4.9k views

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