Living

As the holidays are coming upon, it’s a good time to talk about sodium and fluid retention. Salt is a challenge for anyone with heart failure because it causes the...

I recently heard the phrase 'unexpected loss'. This resonated with me and is a good way of explaining why a widowmaker heart attack and sudden heart failure diagnosis at 35...

I was asked a great question by a community member recently. He said, “Does working too much increase my risk for developing heart disease?” This inspired me to do some...

Prescriptions, scent-free laundry detergent, over-the-counter products, special cleaning products - all these items can add up and can make living with or caring for someone with heart failure expensive. There...

As an HR professional, I find that many people do not understand FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). FMLA is important for people who are in the workforce and use employer-sponsored...

Editor's note: This is part 1 of a series. Read Part 2. When you’re walking around with two stents and one heart attack on record, and when you take baby...

A chronic condition puts an immense burden on both the patient and their family, physically and mentally. There is the actual caregiving in addition to the mental load of monitoring...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a series. Be sure to check out part 1! For her job, my mom kept many records to analyze the public health status...

Overcoming a chronic illness or "sickness" can consist of a number of variables. While many are seen or expected, others are hidden in plain sight as environmental determinants. One such determinant is...

As a CHF patient and someone who previously loved outdoor activity, it has been an adjustment to spend more time inside, especially lately during hot and humid summer days. I...

Managing your fluid restrictions is tough! I have come across a few tricks and tips. However, please realize that this is hard and there is no way to totally take...

August 20, 2015: the day that changed my life forever. I remember waking up feeling hopeful but prepared for the unknown because at the time in my life the unknown...

I have felt discouraged in talking about my heart condition and sometimes even writing about my journey. Now and then, I have felt unmotivated, but recently, the lack of motivation...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a series. Be sure to check out part 1! Somewhat blindsided, I didn't expect to hear I had three leaking heart valves, that...

I’m a dreamer! Not the kind that dreams big and has set goals. I mean when I lay down for bed, dreams always come to me. Sometimes I couldn’t wait...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a series. Be sure to check out part 1! In the first part of the article, we outlined why a good relationship with...

Living with heart failure means that we constantly have to monitor many aspects of our lives – how much salt are we eating, how much fluid are we drinking, how...

Editor's note: This is part 1 of a series. Be sure to check out part 2! We face many problems globally, as communities, families, and as individuals. But I find...

Heart failure is a condition that most have probably heard of at some point in their life, mainly because it is a very common health issue. In fact, there are...

Editor's note: This is part 1 of a series. Be sure to check out part 2! My life constantly feels like a well-scripted story full of dramatic twists that often...