Congestive Heart Failure

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch died Friday at the age of 88.The revered politician battled an assortment of health problems throughout his life – all of which could have contributed to the cause of his death: congestive heart failure, according to one doctor.In 1987, he suffered a minor stroke. Then, in June 2009, he had surgery to replace his aortic valve, and later that month, he had gallbladder surgery. In 1991, Koch had a pacemaker inserted, and eight years later, he was hospitalized for a heart attack.In 2001, Koch was hospitalized again with pneumonia.Koch returned to the hospital twice in 2012 – once in September for anemia and again in December for a respiratory infection. In January 2013, he was hospitalized for fluid buildup in his lungs, which is also known as edema, a side effect of congestive heart failure, said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director of Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health at the NYU Langone Medical Center. Goldberg did not treat Koch.On Thursday, Koc...

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