Living

Learning to embrace your scars is always hard at first. When I had my first surgery scar it was after getting a subcutaneous defibrillator. It was a small slit on...

I am a respiratory therapist with 25 years experience. A good part of my job involves working in the emergency room (ER) and taking care of people with heart failure...

One of the things that was the biggest adjustment for me after my heart failure diagnosis was the amount of work it takes to eat a low-sodium diet. Sodium is...

When you are chronically ill, you’ll have seasons where you are constantly running around between different doctors appointments. At times, it even feels like trips to the ER aren’t that...

Many people don’t realize they have heart disease until it's too late. Also, most people don’t know that young people can have heart disease. The only reason I am familiar...

When I was first diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, I never knew that my journey would end up changing the trajectory of my life. I didn't realize I was in heart...

With summer almost here, it's a good time to talk about tips for staying cool. For those who are newer to their heart failure journey, heat makes your heart work...

On April 19, 1973, my young teenage mother was informed by her obstetrician that he saw signs of me being considered a "blue baby" or a baby with limited oxygen...

A new heart failure diagnosis can feel so overwhelming. Clair talks about a few things she wishes she had known when she was first diagnosed: "Heart failure" is a phrase...

I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2014 at the age of 25. At that point in my life, I had finished grade school, high school, and college. According to...

May is designated as Women's Health Month. We want to raise awareness about heart failure and its impact on women's health. One form of heart failure that affects women is...

When I got diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, I never knew that I would be writing a book about my heart journey. When I look back on all I have been...

I was 17 years old when doctors told me I wouldn't be able to bear children. When I heard that news, it really didn't affect me at the time. I...

When I started taking Lasix, I started experiencing acute pelvic floor issues, including pain, pressure, sexual issues (pain during intercourse), and urinary urgency issues, among others. I have been going...

My name is Olivia, and I am a 2-time stroke survivor, former LVAD patient, and heart transplant recipient. I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2014 after suffering a stroke. I...

Growing plants in your mind and heart is as effective as growing them in your home. Often with heart failure, we may need to give up or downscale our major...

Heart failure has caused many of us to slow down, as we no longer have the same level of functionality as before. For instance, I have less energy, and the...

As a registered nurse (RN) for 15 years who has spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital over the last decade due to chronic illness, I have seen...

Many people with a heart failure history do not need home oxygen therapy. But there are some in this community who do benefit from it. A majority of those who...