Living

The initial diagnosis of heart failure can be a total shock to you. Most of us don’t see it coming, and even if we do, it’s still difficult hearing it...

Like many conditions, heart failure can present over time. One symptom may show up, then a few more until it is all too much to ignore. When you look back...

Have you heard the saying “Those who give a lot have a big heart”? I imagine that a loving heart is about the size of your fist. Then I think...

Editor's note: Check out the first article in this series, Pretty Lady Chronicles: Heart Failure & Parenting Part 1 - The Impact. I’m typing this as 2020 is coming to...

Many of us in the heart failure community cannot, or choose not, to drink. While some say that drinking in moderation is fine, there are others (like myself) whose blood...

Traveling with heart failure can be a source of unnecessary anxiety if you are unsure about how to travel safely. Of course, like with many things heart failure-related, this is...

It is no surprise that cigarette smoking is a major preventable cause of death in the world. Smoking leads to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, leading to heart...

There is a family history of heart disease in my family. My mom and all of her siblings were diagnosed with hypertension. There is also a family history of heart...

In honor of Heart Failure Awareness Month, we’re giving away one Symptom Journal and one Healing Journal because we know living with heart failure is hard work. TWO lucky winners...

Sometimes, it feels like we are surrounded by technology. Apps, devices, trackers, and gadgets are everywhere! In this digital age, though, everyone has a different level of comfort using technology...

Updated: May, 2020 Official Rules, Terms and Conditions for Symptom & Healing Journal Giveaway NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING...

It only took me about four years and two months to have my second heart attack. Why so short of a time between them you might ask? I made some...

For our COPD site, I wrote an article about lung sounds. Your heart also makes sounds. Like lung sounds, they can be heard by using a stethoscope. I thought it...

In the summer of 2010, a diagnosis of coronary artery disease after the discovery of two blocked arteries started me thinking about retirement. After a career in secondary education, including...

Some people in this community also have COPD. It’s a disease that affects the lungs and may cause shortness of breath. So, what is COPD? Here’s what to know. COPD...

Titanic movie watchers will remember this title song by Celine Dion. I have always been a hopeless romantic, so the song and the movie resonated. What really moved me were...

Cold weather is upon the northern part of the world. The cold is arguably just as taxing on heart failure as hot weather is, just in a different way. Most...

It is never easy to receive the news that you have a medical condition that will change your life as you know it. No matter if that condition is a...

You might have seen a previous article I wrote about depression. However, depression’s cousin when it comes to serious medical illness is often trauma-induced PTSD. Per the CDC,“Most everyone has...

There is nothing better than the sound and smell of coffee brewing early in the morning. For me personally, knowing that I can indulge in my morning blonde roast helps...