Living With Heart Failure...If you have recently been diagnosed with heart failure (HF), you are not alone. HF affects approximately 6.5 million people in the United States. It is an ongoing (chronic) condition...
Living with an Implantable Device...Some people with heart failure need a device that can help their heart function properly. It may feel strange to think about having a device implanted in your chest. But...
Lifestyle Changes and Heart Failure...Heart failure (HF) develops when the heart is no longer pumping well enough to meet the demands of the body. Common symptoms of HF include: The American Heart Association (AHA)...
Life After a Hospitalization...Everyone with heart failure will be hospitalized at least once for initial diagnosis, worsening symptoms, or for a procedure. Life continues after you have been discharged from the hospital for...
How to Prevent Heart Failure...Heart failure (HF) is a condition with signs and symptoms that develop when the heart does not function properly. HF affects a person’s life expectancy. Medical guidelines indicate that a...
How Is Heart Failure Diagnosed?...Heart failure (HF) is defined by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology as a complex clinical syndrome, resulting from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs...
How Does the Heart Work?...The heart is a muscular organ about the size of an adult fist. It sits just to the left of the center of the chest, also known as the thoracic...
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...