Heart Failure
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. In some cases, the heart cannot fill with enough blood. In other cases, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body with enough force. Some people have both problems.
The term “heart failure” does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. However, heart failure is a serious condition that requires medical care.
The Heart Failure Clinic at The Cardiac & Vascular Institute has trained providers committed to stratifying the care of patients who are at risk for heart failure and for those who have been diagnosed with heart failure. Our goal is to optimize medical therapy while managing the patient’s heart failure conditions while providing education specifically to detect any changes in cardiovascular status.
Ultimately, our goal is to help our patients who have this condition live a longer and more active life.
Our Services Include
Heart Failure Symptoms Include
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
- Fatigue and weakness
- Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles and feet
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
- Increased need to urinate at night
- Swelling of your abdomen (ascites)
- Very rapid weight gain from fluid retention
- Lack of appetite and nausea
- Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
- Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus
- Chest pain if your heart failure is caused by a heart attack
Heart Failure Risk Factors Include:
High blood pressure
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD
Heart Attack
Diabetes
Sleep Apnea
Certain Medications
Congenital Heart Defects
Valvular Heart Disease
Viruses
Alcohol and Tobacco Use
Obesity
Irregular Heartbeats