Heart Failure

Helping you live longer and healthier

Your multidisciplinary care team will create a highly individualized treatment plan that includes educational and counseling services and adapts to reflect your changing needs.

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What is heart failure?

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is weak or stiff and cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body, causing important organs to receive less blood.   Because the heart is not pumping well, fluid can back up in the lungs and other parts of the body.

Although it can develop suddenly, it is a progressive disease, so symptoms typically build gradually over time.  Proper treatment can improve heart failure symptoms and may help people to feel better, live longer and improve quality of life.

Heart Failure can also be life threatening.  Some people may need a heart transplant or a device to assist the heart to pump blood to the body. 

Two types of heart failure

There are two types of Heart Failure.  The type of heart failure you have is determined by your ejection fraction or EF.  Your EF is the amount of blood the heart pumps out with each heartbeat.  A normal EF is 55-70%. 

  • Left-side heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): The left ventricle is weak can’t pump hard enough to circulate blood through your body (systolic failure).  EF is lower than normal.
  • Left side heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF):   The left ventricle is stiff stiffens and can't does not properly refill fill with blood between heartbeats (diastolic failure).  EF is normal.

Risk factors for heart failure

A family history of heart failure increases your risk of developing it. Age alone isn't a risk factor, but it's more commonly seen in older adults (age 65+).

Risk factors for heart failure that can be controlled include:

  • Arrythmia
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Coronary artery disease and heart attack
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Heart Attack
  • Heart valve disease
  • Arrhythmia’s (Irregular heartbeats, may occur often or be fast) 
  • Obesity and inactivity
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Viral Infections
  • Smoking

Other issues that may increase your risk of developing heart failure include:

Heart failure symptoms

Not everyone has signs and symptoms of heart failure. When symptoms occur, they can vary in duration and intensity. Your symptoms may include:

  • Sudden weight gain
  • Shortness of breath or wheezing
  • Stomach issues (bloating, loss of appetite, nausea)
  • Unexplained cough (can be a dry, hacky cough or brings up white, foamy mucus)  
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping at night
  • Reduced ability to exercise
  • Chest discomfort, heaviness or pain

Heart failure diagnosis

After evaluating your family history and current lifestyle, your primary care provider may refer you to a cardiologist to determine the necessary tests. These can include one or more of the following:

  • Coronary Angiogram
  • Chest X-ray
  • Cardiac MRI
  • CT Scan of heart
  • Blood tests
  • Echocardiogram 
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG)
  • Stress test (physical or pharmacological)
  • Myocardial biopsy
  • Genetic Testing

Heart Failure Treatment

Treatments for Advanced Heart Failure

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Mechanical circulatory support

We can help some patients with advanced heart failure, including HFrEF and candidates for durable ventricle assist devices (VADs) or heart transplants, if they do not have the following conditions:

  • A history of noncompliance, or ignoring your care team’s prescribed therapies
  • Irreversible advanced/end stage disease in other organs, unless they are potential candidates for dual organ transplant
  • Other terminal illness, such as metastatic cancer
  • Active use of cocaine or other drugs
  • Severe untreated or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders
  • Dementia or other debilitating neurologic disorders
  • Advanced age (more than 80 years old)
  • Active systemic infection
  • Other condition that would significantly limit quality and/or quantity of life even if heart failure was corrected