Living

One thing I will say that heart failure has taught me is to focus and appreciate life's simple pleasures. When you are forced to slow down, it can be interesting...

At the end of February 2021, I had the misfortune of experiencing pump failure. That’s right. My “lifesaving” heart pump, known as a left ventricular assistance device (LVAD), failed to...

One of the hardest things about heart failure is the financial component. Personally, it seems like it's been a double whammy between an exponential increase in my medical expenses and...

The impact of heart failure goes beyond the patient and the caregiver. If the patient is a parent, their children are also affected. How it affects them depends on a few...

I have had heart failure for four years now. Time really flies! One thing that has taken adjustment is realizing that my body can no longer compensate for extreme weather...

From mobility awareness to access aisles. There are a number of seemingly small factors that can have negative consequences on heart failure. One of those is handicap parking access aisle violations...

I recently underwent a stress test. This is not my first stress test. However, this was a pharmacological stress test, which was new and intimidating for me. I was lucky...

Music is my therapy. I can recall times listening to music and dancing around the house with no cares in the world except for feeling the beat. Musical therapy was...

In the world of social media, there are groups for just about EVERYTHING a person could imagine. Many of these groups are recreational in nature. Fortunately, there are also those –...

There seems to be awareness for everything these days. From celebrations on a daily and weekly basis to monthly, with an apparent heightened sense to bring attention to multiple health...

As someone who tries hard to have a generally optimistic attitude, sometimes I can even admit the struggle of heart failure can become overwhelming. I used to think that admitting...

Editorial Note: Nominations for 2024 are now closed. We are very excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Social Health Awards program! The Social Health Awards is an awards...

Most of us here have a chronic disease. Being this is a heart failure community, obviously many here have heart failure. But, there are many others here who also have...

Have you ever been told to go on a sodium-restricted diet? If you’ve ever been hospitalized for heart-related issues, then your answer is probably yes. If that’s the case, then...

Living with heart failure can come with a range of symptoms that can be challenging at times. I’ve battled fatigue, abdomen swelling, muscle spasms, and shortness of breath on exertion, to...

I recently purchased a Myzone Heart Rate Monitor. This is not exactly like a Fitbit, which I will cover later. My Myzone Heart Rate Monitor is a wearable device that...

A common concern I hear from patients with heart failure (HF) at the pharmacy is that they are on too many medications. Some patients find this very concerning, especially those...

Members of this community have spoken, and many of you have expressed concerns over some doctors doing a poor job of explaining. This often leads to misunderstanding, confusion, and even...

When I was first transplanted and lost my son I always said, "If someone had an organ of his, I would love to meet that person." I still stand on...

Three of the major heart health organizations have released new guidelines for managing heart failure (HF). The guidelines come from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and Heart...