<s>[INST] How is Congestive Heart Failure Diagnosed? [/INST] Congestive heart failure diagnosis is achieved through a comprehensive assessment of the heart muscle, including a doctor's evaluation of the heart's pumping action and thickness of its walls. This testing helps doctors with the diagnosing of heart failure and can determine the underlying cause. Diagnostic tests for congestive heart failure may include:

Cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram)
Standard exercise tolerance test
Electrocardiogram (also known as EKG, ECG or stress test)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
Chest X-ray
Cardiac catheterization
Cardiac biopsy
Nuclear scan
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan
Cardiac tomography (CT) scan Source: BRIGHAM AND WOMENS. Link: https://www.brighamandwomens.org/heart-and-vascular-center/diseases-and-conditions/congestive-heart-failure-cardiomyopathy. Field: Cardiovascular. Disease: Heart Failure </s>