How Common Is Heart Failure?...Heart failure (HF) is a condition that develops when your heart can no longer pump enough blood and oxygen to your other organs. While it may sound dire, HF does...
How Are Sex and Relationships Impacted by Heart Failure?...You may wonder if sex is safe to have if you or your loved one has heart failure (HF). If you have experienced shortness of breath or feel winded with...
Health Care Team Collaboration...Just as it is important for patients to collaborate with their healthcare team, it is also beneficial for caregivers to be involved early on. An open and honest relationship with...
Glossary of Heart Failure...Ablation: A procedure to scar or destroy a section of heart tissue that allowed electrical signals to cause an abnormal heart rhythm. ACE inhibitor (angiotensin-converting enzyme): A class of drugs...
End-Of-Life Planning for People with Heart Failure...It is a topic most of us would prefer not to talk about, but heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition with no cure. Even with guideline-based medications and strict...
Emerging Heart Failure Research...Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition where the heart does not pump properly. The heart may not fill with enough blood or produce enough force to pump out enough...
Diagnosis Heart Failure: Tests...A heart failure (HF) diagnosis involves a physical exam, a description of symptoms, and for some people, other types of tests. In order to determine if you have heart failure...
Diagnosis Heart Failure: Physical Exam...A complete medical history and physical exam are the cornerstones in the clinical assessment of people with heart failure (HF). Important information gathered through history can identify both heart-related and...
Diagnosis Heart Failure: Imaging Tests...To diagnose and monitor heart failure (HF) providers use many different diagnostic tools. A physical exam and blood work are generally the first two steps. Cardiovascular imaging can provide information...
Diagnosis Heart Failure: Blood Tests...The make-up of each person’s blood can offer information about their general health status and their heart health. Blood test results provide meaningful clinical findings that help in the diagnosis...
Diagnosing Heart Failure...The European Society of Cardiology defines heart failure (HF) as a “clinical syndrome characterized by typical symptoms (e.g. breathlessness, ankle swelling, and fatigue) that may be accompanied by signs (e.g...
Coping with Late Stage Heart Failure...Coping describes the tool we use to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties. Patients and caregivers alike may have begun the coping process at the time of...
Coping with Heart Failure...According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, “cope” means to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties. For some, coping can be a struggle. For others, it can just...
Comorbidity: Diabetes...Specific conditions such as diabetes are known to have an effect on heart failure (HF) and heart failure can also impact the management of other preexisting medical conditions. The presence...
Comorbidity: COPD...Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) are two different medical conditions with similar symptoms. Considered comorbidities, they can be present at the same time and exacerbate (or...
Comorbidities: Depression and Anxiety...Comorbidities, the presence of multiple medical conditions in one person, make managing these conditions difficult. The goal is to manage symptoms and select the most appropriate treatment plan. Medical conditions...
Comorbidites: Chronic Kidney Disease...Heart failure (HF) or chronic kidney disease (CKD), which comes first? The answer is either. Heart disease can cause kidney disease and kidney disease can cause heart disease. The heart...
Comorbidities: Atrial Fibrillation and Other Arrhythmias...Each day our heart beats more than 100,000 times. For most, the heartbeat is steady and rhythmic. It is normal for the heart rate to change based on circumstances; slower...
Causes: Previous Medical Conditions That Contribute to HF...Most people who have heart failure (HF) have a prior medical condition that contributes to the development of HF. There are a number of conditions and diseases that can impact...
Causes: Deeper Dive into Comorbidities of HF...Comorbidity is the presence of two or more chronic diseases, illnesses, or conditions in one person. They can impact health outcomes, require more complex clinical management, and result in higher...