A 70-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease presents with worsening shortness of breath, fatigue, and lower extremity swelling. He has a decreased appetite and has gained 5 pounds in the last week. What might be the potential cause of his symptoms and the next steps?
This patient's history of coronary artery disease and his symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, lower extremity swelling, and weight gain are suggestive of congestive heart failure exacerbation. The next steps would be to confirm the diagnosis with an echocardiogram, perform labs including BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide), and treat with diuretics such as furosemide to relieve fluid overload.