• What is heart failure?
• How do you get it?
• Who gets it?
• What are the symptoms?
• How do I know if I have heart failure?
• What can be done about it?

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump blood as well as it used to, limiting the amount of blood flow and oxygen supply to all parts of the body.
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How do you get it?

Heart failure is a condition that develops when the heart's muscle either becomes weakened or too stiff. This can be caused by a heart attack, high blood pressure, infections of the heart muscle, problems with the valves of the heart, certain medications or drinking too much alcohol for an extended period of time. Sometimes the exact cause cannot be determined.

Those at risk are people who have had (or do have) one or more of the following conditions:

• Heart attack
  
• High blood pressure
  
• High cholesterol
  
• Damage to heart valves
  
• Diabetes
  
• Obesity
  
• Excessive alcohol intake

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Who gets it?

Heart failure affects nearly 5 million Americans. An estimated 400,000 to 700,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
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What are the symptoms?

Think FACES

• Fatigue


• Activities limited
  
• Chest congestion
  
• Edema or ankle swelling
  
• Shortness of breath

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How do I know if I have heart failure?

A doctor is able to determine if a heart failure problem exists through a series of tests which may include one or more of the tests listed below.

• Chest X-ray: To look for fluid build up in the lungs and a larger than usual heart.
  
• Echocardiogram, or "echo": To look at the thickness and movement of the walls of the heart chambers, and the functioning of the heart valves that separate the different heart chambers.
  
• Electrocardiogram, or "EKG" or "ECG": To look at how regularly the heart is beating and whether there is any evidence that the heart muscle has areas that are not getting enough oxygen.
  
• B-type Natriuetic Peptide (BNP) blood test: a test for BNP, a hormone released by the heart chamber when it becomes overloaded.

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What can be done about it?

Work with your health care provider as an active participant.

• See your physician regularly.
  
• Limit your salt intake.
  
• Weigh yourself each day.
  
• Contact your health care provider if your weight changes by more than two to three pounds in one day.
  
• Take your medications.
  
• Exercise at levels recommended by your physician.

Be an active participant in the management of your health!

Learning about heart failure will help you feel more in control of your life and may help you to avoid trips to urgent care and the emergency room. We welcome your input as to what topics you would like to have covered in our monthly meetings.


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