2. Heart Failure Does NOT
Mean...
โข Your heart has stopped working
โข Your heart is about to stop working
โข You have had a heart attack
3. How Does Heart Failure
Affect the Body?
โข Not enough blood circulates
โข Fluid builds up, creating congestion
4. How Many People Have
Heart Failure?
โข Heart failure is very common
โข Heart failure affects nearly 5 million Americans
โข An estimated 400,000 to 700,000 new cases are
diagnosed each year
5. What Causes Heart Failure?
Heart failure results after injury to the heart.
Risk factors include:
โข High blood pressure
โข Heart attack
โข High cholesterol
โข Damage to heart valves
โข Diabetes
โข Obesity
โข Advancing age
6. โข Heart failure is NOT a heart attack
โข Heart failure means the heart is:
โข Weakened
โข Cannot pump enough blood
to supply the bodyโs needs
7. What Are The Symptoms
of Heart Failure?
Think FACES...
โข Fatigue
โข Activities limited
โข Chest congestion
โข Edema or ankle swelling
โข Shortness of breath
8. What Does
โEjEction Fractionโ MEan?
โEjection Fractionโ refers to the fraction of blood the
heart pumps out with each beat.
โข Healthy heart = 60% or more
โข Heart failure = 40% or less
9. Is There a Cure For Heart
Failure?
โข No, currently there is not a cure
โข BUT, early diagnosis and proper treatment can:
- Slow the progression of disease
- Keep you out of the hospital
- Save your life!
10. What Are The Treatments
for Heart Failure?
Experts recommend:
โข Diuretics - help control symptoms
โข Digoxin - helps control symptoms
โข ACE Inhibitors - can slow disease progression
โข Beta Blockers - can slow disease progression
This combination of medications has been
proven to save lives and keep people out
of the hospital.
11. Medicines to Control
Symptoms...
โข Diuretics or โwater pillsโ:
decrease fluid retention and reduce swelling
โข Digoxin:
improves blood circulation
12. Can a Person Live
with Heart Failure?
YES!
โข See your physician regularly
โข Limit your salt intake
โข Weigh yourself each day
- Contact your healthcare provider if your weight changes more
than 2-3 pounds in one day
โข Take your medications
โข Exercise at levels recommended
by your physician