Living

Editor's note: Check out Part 2 and Part 3 of this series. It seems I'm always learning on this journey. So much so, that I’ve adopted many mantras and fight words...

Life with heart failure can look different from person to person. Severity, type of heart failure, and treatment plans can all vary. Heart failure also comes with a wide range...

Along with a slew of "not for prime time" words, I found myself using many new words to describe my heart attack, condition, and how I live post-diagnosis. A recent survey...

In recent years, health insurance and the cost of healthcare have become issues of regular debate. Our 2020 Heart Failure In America survey looked at the health insurance status of...

Maintaining a relationship with a significant other can be very trying when one or both of you have a chronic illness that can limit daily activities. It isn’t always easy...

Lab work is something people with heart failure are used to being drawn. Every three, six, or twelve months we have lab work drawn to check the effectiveness of medication...

I remember back when I was first diagnosed with heart failure. I was shocked - in a jaw-dropping way - overwhelmed, and couldn't process information as quickly as I had been...

Hypertension seems to be common in our community. Of those who participated in our Heart Failure in America survey, 51% said they also had hypertension. So, what is hypertension? What...

Keeping up with household chores can be a burden, even more so for people who suffer from heart failure. Things that would be easy for most people can be absolutely...

There are a variety of different diagnoses, symptoms, and experiences related to heart failure. Some of these can be based on what part of the heart is affected, how severe...

A common complaint that I see people having with diuretics is they stop working or become less effective. What exactly does this mean? Can a medication simply stop working? Why...

Rev. Isaac Dusenbury is a chaplain at Duke University Hospital. He completed his chaplain residency at Duke University Hospital’s Surgical and Intensive Care Unit and graduated from the Divinity School...

One of the biggest questions I ask myself is if I should take it easy and follow what my doctor recommends or if I should push myself with the mentality...

The Connected Health Survey is now closed. Thank you for your interest! In the digital age, there are so many devices, websites, and technologies related to health. From fitness trackers...

Here is what to know about home oxygen therapy and how to qualify for it. Essentially, it’s supplemental oxygen for your home. Supplemental oxygen is when you inhale more oxygen...

Access to medicine is important. Drug regimens are part of treating many health conditions, and delays in taking drugs can have serious effects on health and well-being. Many people get...

Fatigue is one of the most difficult symptoms to become used to and can be even more difficult to manage. Many of the medications heart failure patients are placed on...

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a device you will probably need to decide if you want during your heart failure adventure. There are multiple types of an ICD, and the...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a two-part series. Part 1 is titled 'Panic, Revisited (Part 1)'. About a week after I first visited Sutter Sacramento hospital in mid-2016...

One of the best volunteer programs I’ve seen and experienced myself was at Columbia Children’s Hospital. The caregivers were invited once a week to a beauty treatment. The program was...