Your source for up-to-date information on Heart Failure, it's causes, treatments, and latest news

Site Links

Heart Failure Center Community

Heart Failure
Knowledge

exam room doctor with patient

Why Me?

If you have congestive heart failure, you're not alone.

More than 5 million Americans suffer from this potentially serious problem. Although there is no "cure" for heart failure, careful management can dramatically improve quality of life and minimize symptoms.

The goals of treatment are to prevent your condition from worsening, and to improve the heart's function. Your participation in the treatment is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT factor in determining how you feel.

By understanding how to best manage your heart failure and following a few simple guidelines, you can enjoy a fuller and more active life.

Common Heart Failure Terms:

Angina
Chest pain or pressure, usually because of blockages in the heart, but sometimes also caused by a large or weak heart.

Angiogram
Also called a cardiac catheterization, this invasive procedure requires a cardiologist to insert a small IV into an artery (usually in the groin) to take pictures of the heart and see if there are any blockages.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACE)
A medicine that alters a negative hormone and opens the arteries, thereby helping the heart pump more efficiently.

Arrhythmia
When the heart has extra beats or beats in a way that is not its regular rhythmic pattern.

Atrial Fibrillation
An arrhythmia of the heart where the top chambers quiver or “fibrillate” (do not pump effectively) while the bottom chambers (ventricles) pump at a regular rhythm.

Beta-Blocker
A medicine that changes the chemistry of the body and helps the heart cells to rest and heal.

Cardiomyopathy
A heart muscle disease or weakness that can have many different causes.

Diuretic
Also known as “water pills,” this medicine helps the body eliminate excess fluid that causes congestion.

Dyspnea
Shortness of breath.

Echocardiogram
A non-invasive test that shows the pumping function of the heart and how well the heart valves work.

Edema
Swelling.

Ejection Fraction
A number that describes how much blood the heart pumps out with each beat. The normal heart pumps out about 50% of the blood it contains with each heart beat, so a normal ejection fraction is about 50%.

Hypertension
Blood pressure that is abnormally high (higher than 140/90) and can cause heart failure.

Nocturia
A need to urinate at night.

Orthopnea
The need to raise the head up to breathe while lying down, usually due to shortness of breath.

Prognosis
A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.

Ventricle
The lower pumping chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs, while the left ventricle pumps blood to the brain, kidneys and rest of the body.

Contact Information

Heart Failure Center

Name:	Wendy Gries
Email:	Wendy@HeartFailureCenter.com
Phone Number:	(925) 830-1038

Please send us your comments

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. The Heart Failure Center does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The contents of The Heart Failure Center Site ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or any symptoms you may have. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

HeartFailureCenter.com