Heart Failure

If you have heart failure, you're not alone. About 6 million Americans are currently living with it. In fact, it's one of the most common reasons people age 65 and older go into the hospital. It can take years for heart failure to develop. Heart failure symptoms usually develop over time as your heart becomes weaker and less able to pump the blood that your body needs. Heart failure usually results in an enlarged heart (left ventricle). Heart failure is a serious long-term (chronic) condition. But you can live a full, active life with the right medical treatment and attention to your lifestyle. © AHA

Keeping track of your symptoms, activity, and daily tasks is crucial for successful heart failure management. Use this self-administered checklist to make sure you're sticking with your heart failure management plan. © AHA

Watch this to learn when to call the doctor when you have heart failure.

This condition, also called "congestive heart failure," is when your heart becomes so weak it can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. It doesn't mean that your heart has stopped beating. But it's a serious condition, and it needs medical care.

This video is a patient story about Ronnie, who lives with heart failure.

Learn what types of medications are often prescribed to help manage heart failure, and their side effects.

Understand the importance of keeping to a daily medication routine and learn a few strategies to keeping your medications organized.

Using this chart, keep track of the heart failure management medication you are taking, along with important instructions to ensure you are taking them properly. © AHA

This disease is caused by a weakening of the heart muscle. It primarily affects the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber. In a heart with dilated cardiomyopathy, the diseased muscle fibers have stretched and the chamber has enlarged to make up for its lost pumping power. A heart affected by dilated cardiomyopathy has difficulty supplying enough blood flow to meet the body's needs. This can result in heart failure.

Know the signs and symptoms that signal you should contact your healthcare provider.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a thickening of the lower main pumping chamber of the heart (the left ventricle). It can affect people of any age but is more likely as age increases. It is most often diagnosed in middle age and symptoms can vary widely. © AHA

Learn about the tests commonly used to diagnose heart failure.

Understanding and following your personal treatment plan can help reduce your heart failure symptoms.

See what usually occurs during healthcare appointments, and how discussions with your provider can help manage your heart failure.

Being actively involved in your care will help you get the best possible results from treatment. Be prepared with the questions you want to remember to ask your health care professional. © AHA

Preparing for your appointments is an important part of your heart failure management plan. This sheet can help you get ready to get the most of your time with your heart failure experts. © AHA

Heart failure is commonly tracked by the ejection fraction, a measure of how much blood your heart pumps with every beat. Learn more about how the ejection fraction is calculated and how it's used to track heart failure. © AHA

A low ejection fraction is an indicator of worsening heart failure. Learn what steps you can take to preserve or even recover ejection fraction if you have heart failure. © AHA

What does ejection fraction measure? Ejection fraction (EF) shows how well your heart is pumping out blood and in diagnosing and tracking heart failure.

Watch this to learn what ejection fraction is and how it will be monitored throughout your treatment for heart failure.

Watch this clip to learn what happens when heart failure worsens.

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, has several symptoms including shortness of breath, fluid buildup (edema) and fatigue. If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, it's important for you to manage and keep track of symptoms and report any sudden changes to your healthcare team.

Learn about the different ways that your heart failure may be treated. These include new medications, possible devices like a pacemaker, or heart surgery.

Learn about the left ventricular assist device and how it can help your heart pump.

When you have heart failure, medications are an important part of your care plan. Let's learn about some of the drugs we commonly use, and how they help you.

Watch this video to be able to describe what a VAD is.

Learn about your discharge information, and that following your instructions carefully may help you avoid another admission to the hospital.

Learn some common places to find strength and support while managing your heart failure.

Recognizing an increase in your symptoms of heart failure can help you take action to avoid a trip to the hospital.

Bring this sheet with you to your appointment and discuss the questions with your doctor. This will help you understand how serious your heart failure is, identify your heart failure needs, and explore your heart failure treatment. © AHA

Watch this video to learn how smoking affects your heart, and common ways to quit.

About 6 million Americans are currently living with heart failure. In fact, it's one of the most common reasons people 65 and older go into the hospital. Heart failure is a long-term (chronic) condition, but it can be treated. Getting good medical care and following your treatment plan will help you have the best quality of life. You can help by taking your medications as prescribed and following your eating and exercise plans. © AHA

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an enlarged heart.

IABP is a device that helps your heart pump better. It is used most often when your heart is not able to pump enough blood for your body.

The IABP procedure is done through a large IV placed in your arm.

Heart failure can happen in 2 ways. The heart muscle may become weak and enlarged (systolic dysfunction). Or, the heart muscle may become stiff (diastolic dysfunction). Learn more about these 2 types, their symptoms, and how heart failure impacts your body.

"If you have cardiomyopathy, you have a problem with the muscle tissue that makes up your heart. Cardiomyopathy means ""heart muscle disease."" Your heart may not be pumping as well as it should."

Once you have heart failure, flare-ups can happen. Gaining weight is often the first warning sign of trouble. That's why you need to weigh yourself each day. But there are other signs of trouble, too. Here are some things to watch for.

A sudden weight gain or a steady rise in weight is a warning sign that your body is retaining too much water and salt. This could mean your heart failure is getting worse. Weighing yourself each day is the best way to know if you're retaining water.

Your healthcare provider will outline a treatment plan to help you live better with cardiomyopathy and stop it from getting worse. Follow your provider's instructions. And read on to learn helpful tips.

Medicines can help you feel better and stay as healthy as you can. Take your medicines exactly as instructed. Never stop taking medicines or change dosage unless told to by your doctor, even if you feel better. Here are some capsule definitions of medicines that might be prescribed.

Certain procedures may help in some cases of heart failure. They are done to treat health problems that are affecting your heart. Here are some examples.

To evaluate your condition, your healthcare provider will examine you, ask questions, and run tests. Learn more about the tests that may be done and the possible treatments.

Cardiomyopathy means heart muscle disease. If you have cardiomyopathy, you have a problem with the muscle tissue that makes up your heart. Your heart may not be pumping as well as it should. Read on to learn more.

Cardiomyopathy means that your heart is not functioning normally. It can make it more difficult to do things that may have been easy for you in the past.

The heart is a muscle that pumps oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. When you have heart failure, the heart is not able to pump as well as it should. Symptoms of heart failure can be controlled by changes in your lifestyle and by following your doctor's advice. Symptoms of heart failure can be controlled by lifestyle changes and by following your doctor's advice.

You had a procedure to insert a ventricular assist device (VAD). This device replaces the pumping action of your heart. Here's what you need to know about home care.

Use this chart to help track your symptoms. By noting your symptoms every day, you can tell when they're getting worse.

To manage your heart failure symtpoms, you need to know what's normal for you. Then you can watch for changes. Use this chart to help you measure your symptoms.

Many people with heart failure have sleep apnea. This is a condition that causes snoring and short periods of not sleeping.

You can travel if you have heart failure. You just need to plan ahead. Use this checklist when getting ready for your trip.

A ventricular assist device (VAD) helps the heart pump blood throughout your body. This device connects to one or both of the ventricles of your heart.

A ventricular assist device (VAD) helps the heart pump blood throughout your body. You may need surgery to get a VAD if you have severe heart failure.

When you have heart failure, your heart can no longer pump the amount of blood your body needs to work properly. A VAD can help your heart pump.

It's important to ask your provider questions during your visit to make sure you understand your condition and what your treatment involves.

Here's how you can stay healthy and prevent the problems that lead to a stay in the hospital.

Heart failure makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood, causing shortness of breath. Here are some tips to help you breathe more easily.

If you have heart failure, knowing your body can help you manage your condition.

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

Heart failure is a long-term condition that you need to manage over time. It's important that you manage it as your healthcare provider tells you.

Remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring is used to manage heart failure. It works as an early warning system.

This sheet will help you assess your heart health each day. It lists symptoms to watch out for, and action steps to take.

Ejection fraction is a measurement of how much blood your heart pushes out when it beats.

Learn how much sodium you should have each day, and a few tips for reducing the amount of sodium that you eat.

Understand how to read the information on the food label to help you make healthier food choices.

Understand how limiting your fluids can reduce your symptoms of heart failure.

Learn how to achieve your physical activity goals gradually and safely.

Learn what being diagnosed with heart failure means for your future. You also will be introduced to lifestyle changes such as limiting sodium, staying active, and taking new medications.

After suffering a heart attack, Patsy is diagnosed with heart failure and has to make adjustments to her daily routines.

Ronnie has been living with his heart failure diagnosis, making changes to his exercise and nutrition habits to keep his condition under control.

If you feel down most days or are having problems with appetite or sleep, you may have depression. Depression is as real and serious an illness as heart failure. But depression is treatable.

Being active doesn't mean that you have to wear yourself out. Even a little movement each day helps to strengthen your heart. If you can't get out to exercise, you can do simple stretching and strengthening exercises at home. Read on for helpful tips to be a bit more active.

When you're living with heart failure, it's normal to feel sad or down at times. Here are some tips to help you feel better and get the help you need.

When you have heart failure, excess fluid is more likely to build up in your body. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood. Controlling the amount of salt (sodium) you eat may help prevent fluid from building up. Read on for some helpful ways to reduce salt.

There are many benefits to regular, moderate physical activity--especially for people with heart failure. Here's what you need to know.