Living

My title is a little deceptive because I no longer run. But I ran for a long time, from high school into my mid-sixties. All three of my sons, now...

Dear Santa. My kids already made their Christmas lists. I hope you received them well. Consider this post my personal Christmas list. Last year you gave me a nice surround...

You have probably heard the song lyrics, “I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger.” Many who live with a chronic health disease wish to...

There is no doubt that living with heart failure takes courage. This diagnosis comes with a great deal of uncertainty, which can lead to a variety of fears and stresses...

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I must say what an experience! It was so filled with laughter, love and great food. Personally, I was looking forward to feeling all...

Heart failure is a disease that may cause you to feel short of breath.  The most common time when you may feel short of breath due to heart failure is...

The good news (within the bad news) is that when I was diagnosed with heart disease in 1999 and received a triple bypass, I was married. My spouse was able...

Shortly before my recent annual visit with my cardiologist, I received some information that sent me into an emotional tail spin: fear, anxiety, insomnia, a lack of overall wellbeing. It...

For every great cardiologist, there is at least one that is not so great. When searching for a cardiologist, it is equally important to know which qualities to look for...

Most of us are familiar with the four vital signs: respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. Of course, most of us are also familiar with what is now...

Living with heart failure means frequently accessing the healthcare system. Unfortunately, the system often does not feel user-friendly. We wanted to know how you would summarize your experience, so we...

My path to congestive heart failure was not a gradual one. I had a massive SCAD induced heart attack that damaged my heart. In addition to that, I have many...

Living in the digital age, many resources exist at the end of a search for support with a chronic illness. We wondered what makes this community stand out for you...

Anyone who has been diagnosed with heart failure has had anger at some point. Anger at these symptoms, which carry a high degree of burden. Anger at the fatigue, anger...

Our careers are part of what defines us as individuals. When meeting someone new, one of the ways we identify ourselves is through our jobs. Chronic illness can derail careers...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a series. Be sure to read Part 1. After coffee and breakfast the next morning, we set out over Burro Pass for the...

A great cardiologist is more than just the doctor who is the most knowledgeable or the one who has the office that is most convenient to get to. Rather, a...

Intimacy is about creating a genuine connection. It can be intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Managing intimate relationships is a common problem for heart failure patients. This is especially true...

As I look back over the 26 years I have cared for my child, first in heart failure and then through her heart transplant, I never saw a situation like...

If someone receives group health insurance through an employer, FMLA is the framework in which an employee's job (and their health insurance) is protected if they need to take time...