Knowing what to ask you doctor might save your life.
The Heart Failure Center stresses the importance of a proper diagnosis as early as possible when dealing with Heart Failure.
Heart Failure Center experts have provided a list of questions that you may print out and take with you to your doctor which will help in getting a proper diagnosis.
Heart Failure, commonly referred to as Congestive Heart Failure simply put, is the heart’s inability to sufficiently fill with blood OR it’s inability to distribute a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body.
When defining Heart Failure one must consider Blood Pressure. Blood Pressure has two gages-the systolic (the top number on the reading) which is the usual rhythmic contraction, following each dilation (diastole) during which the blood is driven onward from the chambers of the heart to the body and the diastolic (the bottom number on the reading) which is the usual rhythmic dilation, following each contraction (systole), during which the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers of the heart fill with blood.
Heart failure is categorized by which side of the heart that is affected (the right or left). Each side experiences different malfunctions and different symptoms. A patient suffers from dysfunction on one side or the other, whether the occurrence is from the relaxation (diastole-see above) or contraction (systole-see above).
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Welcome to the Heart Failure Center
HeartFailureCenter.com is the premier site for up-to-date cardiac information. Our goal is to provide you with information that can empower you to receive the "best fit" cardiac healthcare available
Diagnosing a heart condition is the first step to recovery. A patient will undergo a series of tests prior to making a decision about the next step in managing Heart Failure. Proper and expert diagnosis is imperative.
A heart patient needs to surround themselves with a team of experts. A family physician, a cardiac specialist, and possibly a heart surgeon are people that a heart patient will need at this time.
Heart Failure may be corrected with proper medication(s) and lifestyle changes. Your physician and a cardiac specialist will determine what is best for you.
There are many minimally-invasive surgical options concerning heart surgery. Depending on medical background, family history and the stage and classification of Heart Failure, a patient and their surgeon will make the right choice(s) for each individual.
Obviously, invasive heart surgery is the biggest step in handling Heart Failure. If it has been determined that a person is a candidate for invasive surgery, there are many decisions and choices to be made.
When the surgery is over, a patient will need to take proper precautions to insure a healthy recovery. There are several steps that a heart patient can take to help get them back on the right track.
If you are overweight, don’t eat right, and/or don’t exercise, it is never too late to start taking care of yourself; particularly your heart since it is the body’s “motor.” Whatever you do now will affect you for years to come, so think ahead. Embrace Your Heart has published a few simple, common sense steps that anyone can take, at any time, for a healthier heart and life. For full details and the six steps, click on the link below…
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently issued a statement concerning the participation school nurses should play in the effort to prevent heart disease and other cardiac problems later in life. The AHA is pushing for nurses to participate “in behavioral skill training and heart-health education in children.” Awareness is the key and urging students to exercise, eat healthy, and not smoke are mentioned in the statement. For the full story and related articles, click on the links below…
It was determined during a routine check-up that Josephine, on of the 10 oldest orangutans in North America, was suffering from heart disease. The 47-year-old Sumatran orangutan had fluid around her heart that needed to be drained. A short time after the fluid removal, she appeared lethargic and had a “poor appetite.” A team of doctors from the University of California, San Diego performed a “quick surgery” on Josephine on May 25th. After a week of bed rest she was happily reunited with her family and friends and seems to have made a complete recovery. For the full story and pictures, click on the link below…
It was confirmed on June 28th that Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, had two coronary arterial stents inserted to “relieve blockage” in his heart in 2000 before becoming mayor. Bloomberg, 65, yet to confirm his candidacy for president, is said to be in excellent health. For more on the story, click on the link below…
A study on monkeys concerning the effects of hormone therapy on heart vessel disease published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests “stress can affect estrogen levels and may set the stage for heart disease later in life,”according to Jay Kaplan, Ph.D., professor of comparative medicine and director of the primate center. The study indicates that “younger postmenopausal women who take estrogen-alone hormone therapy have significantly less building of calcium plaque in their arteries compared to their peers who did not take hormone therapy.” Kaplan adds, “The message for women is that anything that reduces estrogen levels in young adulthood - whether it be stress or exercise and diet habits - may put women on a high-risk course for heart disease.” For more information on the research, click on the link below….
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.
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