Articles

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...

The United States is currently in an epidemic that is often referred to as the “opioid crisis.” This has led to a change in the availability and access of opioid-containing...

Heart failure is primarily a heart disease, yet it can sometimes affect your lungs too. Plus, lung diseases can also affect your heart. So I thought it would be neat...

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...

The management of a chronic condition can be complex and often confusing. From constant self-observation to consistent practice of management techniques, it’s not easy. Sometimes, we need some extra help...

Blood pressure readings are a regular occurrence for heart failure patients, whether it's at the doctor's office, cardiac rehab, or home. But how many of us understand what these numbers...

There has long been talk of heart disease being hereditary. Since the year 1900, researchers have learned a lot about genetics and now they are attempting to find what exact...

We all know of the great benefits that come with quitting smoking. From reducing premature death to saving a considerable amount of money, there are clear advantages to quitting smoking...

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...

About 2-4 percent of adults have sleep apnea and about 1 in 3 people with heart failure also have sleep apnea. So, is there a connection between these two diseases?...

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...

Heart failure patients need to have a conversation about the pelvic floor! As a heart failure patient, a lot of medicine that we take (especially the diuretics) are hard on...

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...

Receiving a heart failure diagnosis is almost always a life-changing experience. Some people get the news after a major cardiac event, while others find out after years of slowly progressing...

I have been writing about things I experience in the hospital setting. Of course, we take care of many patients experiencing myocardial ischemia and infarction (a.k.a. heart attacks). I am...