Health Topics

Studies have shown that several classes of drugs are best to treat heart failure. Heart failure patients may need multiple medications. Each one treats a different symptom or contributing factor and comes with its own instructions and rules. You and your caregivers should work with your healthcare team to understand the medications and when, how often and in what dosage to take them. It’s important to discuss all of the drugs you take

Helping you Rise Above HF Cardiac rehabilitation can be a life-changing step in the journey to recovery from heart failure – playing a critical role in improving quality and length of life. What is cardiac rehab? Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program that includes exercise training, education on heart-healthy living, and in many cases, counseling to reduce stress. It helps patients recover and improve physical, mental and social function. The goal is to

Small changes can make a big difference Following recommendations about diet, exercise and other habits can help alleviate heart failure symptoms, slow your disease’s progression and improve your everyday life. In fact, people with mild to moderate heart failure often can lead nearly normal lives as a result. Making some of these lifestyle changes can be easier said than done. But working these changes into your daily routine can make a

What is “ejection fraction”? Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement, expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. An ejection fraction of 60 percent means that 60 percent of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat. This indication of how well your heart is pumping out blood can help to diagnose and track heart failure. What’s normal? A normal

To determine whether you have heart failure, your healthcare team may perform some or all of these diagnostic tests and procedures. Physical examination How it's done: You'll be asked about your medical history and symptoms. Typically, you fill out forms with this information before your examination. The doctor or a healthcare assistant may ask you the questions again during the exam. Your blood pressure will be taken. You'll be weighed. A healthcare professional will listen to

Small changes can improve symptoms, and give you time for what matters most. Your body and your heart can often respond to effects of heart failure (HF) so that you never notice any symptoms. Your heart compensates for added strain by working harder. However, as heart failure worsens, your body can gradually become less able to keep up. When a situation worsens by small degrees over time, you may not even

By themselves, any one sign of heart failure may not be cause for alarm. But if you have more than one of these symptoms, even if you haven't been diagnosed with any heart problems, report them to a healthcare professional and ask for an evaluation of your heart. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure which requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably. View an