Digoxin Test

Digoxin test measures the level of the drug digoxin in the blood. Digoxin is a drug used for the treatment of heart failure and abnormal heartbeats. Heart failure, including congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when the heart is less effective at pumping and circulating blood throughout the body. This further results in backflow of the blood to the hands, legs, feet, liver and lungs. The symptoms of this flow back of blood are shortness of breath, swelling and fatigue. Digoxin is generally prescribed to relieve some of the symptoms associated with heart failure. The drug helps strengthen the contractions of the heart muscles and helps the heart pump blood with greater efficiency. Digoxin also helps control abnormal heart rhythms, a condition known as arrhythmia. However, it does not completely cure heart failure. The digoxin values in blood need to be monitored closely because it has a narrow safety range. When the level of digoxin is too low, the symptoms may recur, while if the level of digoxin is high, it may lead to toxicity. A digoxin test means checking the digoxin level in the blood and determining whether it falls within the safe range. Additionally, the dosage of digoxin is adjusted based on the levels reflected in the digoxin test reports. The prevalence of heart diseases and heart failure in India is quite high. About 1% of the population undergoes heart failure every year. However, heart transplants are becoming common nowadays, along with new drugs that help manage heart ailments.