Heart failure

The symptoms of heart failure may include:

• Confusion or impaired thinking
• Coughing and wheezing
• Fatigue and weakness
• Frequent urination, especially at night time
• Increased heart rate
• Increased thirst
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath, especially when lying down
• Sudden weight gain of two to three pounds in one day, or five pounds in a week
• Swelling in the feet, ankles and legs

You may experience symptoms of heart failure at any time, especially after you have had a cardiac event or ongoing chronic condition, such as diabetes. In these cases, we recommend you see one of our board-certified cardiologists to talk about heart failure.

Our specialists will listen to your concerns and perform a physical. Depending on what they find, they may also perform or request follow-up appointments for you to have:

• Diagnostic laboratory work (such as blood or urine tests)
• Heart imaging scans (such as electrocardiograms or echocardiograms)
• Other testing, such as exercise stress tests, nuclear imaging or cardiac catheterization procedures

Many things can cause heart failure to begin, including:

• Cardiac events, such as heart attacks
• Cardiac conditions, such as heart arrhythmias, or diseases, such as coronary artery disease

You may also be at risk of developing heart failure if you:

• Have had chemotherapy
• Are obese
• Have a heart valve condition

Talk to your doctor about your personal risk factors and what steps you can take now to prevent heart disease.

Our hospitals offer heart failure clinics and prevention and treatment programs. They are designed to help you and your family understand the condition and find the treatment method that is best for you. In addition to developing personalized diet and exercise plans for you, some of the treatments we provide include:

• Heart and vascular surgery, such as inserting ventricular assist devices (mechanical pumps that help the heart function) or pulmonary artery pressure monitors
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
• Diuretic infusions (intravenous medications)
• Home inotropic infusion therapy (intravenous or infusion pump medications)
• Ultrafiltration (salt and water removal)

Once all medications and other treatment options have been tried without success, you may need a heart transplant to treat heart failure. Our heart surgeons and surgical teams are highly trained to perform this operation with precision and accuracy. They will be with you every step of the way if you need a heart transplant, making sure you are as informed and prepared as possible.