Heart Failure 101Heart Failure 101

What is Heart Failure?What is Heart Failure?

• Heart failure is a condition that develops Heart failure is a condition that develops when the heart's muscle becomes when the heart's muscle becomes weakened after it is injured from weakened after it is injured from something like a heart attack or high blood something like a heart attack or high blood pressure, and loses its ability to pump pressure, and loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body's needsenough blood to supply the body's needs

Heart Failure DoesHeart Failure Does NOTNOT Mean...Mean...

• Your heart has stopped workingYour heart has stopped working

• Your heart is about to stop workingYour heart is about to stop working

• You have had a heart attackYou have had a heart attack

YOU CAN LIVE WITH HEART YOU CAN LIVE WITH HEART FAILURE!FAILURE!

How Does Heart Failure How Does Heart Failure Affect the Body?Affect the Body?

• Not enough blood circulating Not enough blood circulating

• ““Congestion” or fluid build up Congestion” or fluid build up

• Difficulty breathingDifficulty breathing

• Less blood supply to vital organsLess blood supply to vital organs

How Many People HaveHow Many People Have Heart Failure? Heart Failure?

• Heart failure is very common!!! Heart failure is very common!!!

• Heart failure affects nearly 5 million Heart failure affects nearly 5 million AmericansAmericans

• An estimated 400,000 to 700,000 new An estimated 400,000 to 700,000 new cases are diagnosed each yearcases are diagnosed each year

What Causes Heart Failure?What Causes Heart Failure?

Heart failure results after injury to the heart, risk Heart failure results after injury to the heart, risk factors include:factors include:• Heart attackHeart attack• High blood pressureHigh blood pressure• High cholesterolHigh cholesterol• Damage to heart valves Damage to heart valves • DiabetesDiabetes• Obesity Obesity • Advancing ageAdvancing age

What Are The Symptoms What Are The Symptoms of Heart Failure?of Heart Failure?

Think Think FACESFACES......

• FFatigueatigue

• AActivities limitedctivities limited

• CChest congestionhest congestion

• EEdema or ankle swellingdema or ankle swelling

• SShortness of breathhortness of breath

How Do I Know How Do I Know if I Have Heart Failure ?if I Have Heart Failure ?

Your doctor will run a series of tests:Your doctor will run a series of tests:

• Echocardiogram, or “echo” Echocardiogram, or “echo” Ejection FractionEjection Fraction

Healthy heart = 50- 60% Healthy heart = 50- 60% Heart failure = 40 % or less or more than Heart failure = 40 % or less or more than

65%65%• Electrocardiogram, or “EKG” or “ECG”Electrocardiogram, or “EKG” or “ECG”• Chest X-rayChest X-ray

Is There a Cure For Heart Is There a Cure For Heart Failure?Failure?

• No, currently there is not a cureNo, currently there is not a cure

• BUTBUT, early diagnosis and proper , early diagnosis and proper treatment can:treatment can:

-- Significantly slow the progression of Significantly slow the progression of diseasedisease

-- Keep you out of the hospital Keep you out of the hospital

-- Save your life! Save your life!

What Are The Treatments What Are The Treatments for Heart Failure?for Heart Failure?

Medications:Medications:• Diuretics or “water pills”Diuretics or “water pills”- helps control - helps control

symptomssymptoms • ACE InhibitorsACE Inhibitors - can slow down disease - can slow down disease

progressionprogression • Beta BlockersBeta Blockers - can slow down disease - can slow down disease

progressionprogression

This combination of medications has been proven to This combination of medications has been proven to save lives and keep people out of the hospital.save lives and keep people out of the hospital.

Medicines to Control Medicines to Control Symptoms...Symptoms...

• DiureticsDiuretics: : ( Lasix, Bumex etc)( Lasix, Bumex etc) decrease decrease fluid retention and reduce swellingfluid retention and reduce swelling

• NitratesNitrates:: ( Imdur, nitro-bid) improve ( Imdur, nitro-bid) improve blood supply to heart muscleblood supply to heart muscle

• Aldosterone AntagonistAldosterone Antagonist ( Aldactone): ( Aldactone): block the effects of a stress hormone block the effects of a stress hormone called aldosteronecalled aldosterone

Medicines That Save Medicines That Save Lives...Lives...

• ACE InhibitorsACE Inhibitors:: dilate or widen blood dilate or widen blood vessels, increase blood flowvessels, increase blood flow

• Beta blockersBeta blockers:: helps strengthen the helps strengthen the heart’s pumping ability, blocks the body’s heart’s pumping ability, blocks the body’s response to substances which can response to substances which can damage the heartdamage the heart

Can a Person Live Can a Person Live with Heart Failure?with Heart Failure?

YES!!!YES!!!• See your physician regularlySee your physician regularly• Limit your salt intake to less than 2 gm Limit your salt intake to less than 2 gm

dailydaily• Weigh yourself each dayWeigh yourself each day

-- Contact your healthcare provider if your weight Contact your healthcare provider if your weight changes more than 2-3 pound in one daychanges more than 2-3 pound in one day

-- Take your medications Take your medications-- Exercise at levels recommended Exercise at levels recommended

by your physicianby your physician

What are my Warning Signs??

Sudden weight gain (three or more pounds in one day, five or more pounds in one week,

Shortness of breath not related to exercise or exertion Increases in swelling of the lower limbs (legs or ankles) Swelling or pain in the abdomen Trouble sleeping (waking up short of breath, using

more pillows) Frequent dry, hacking cough Increased fatigue

If caught early, these symptoms may just require an adjustment in medication, which often can be explained over the phone.

For More Information For More Information About Heart Failure, About Heart Failure,

Contact…Contact…The Heart Failure Society of The Heart Failure Society of America via their web sites:America via their web sites:

www.aboutheart.orgwww.aboutheart.org

www.americanheart.orgwww.americanheart.org