14 VITALITY Fall 2024 If you or someone you love has heart failure, the diagnosis can be scary. The condition is serious, but many people learn how to manage heart failure and live normal lives. What is heart failure? It might surprise you to learn that heart failure doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working. When someone is diagnosed with heart failure, it means their heart’s ability to pump blood is impaired. Heart failure is a chronic condition that worsens over time—if it’s not managed. There are two types of heart failure. Left-sided heart failure usually happens first. Congestive heart failure is a kind of heart failure that calls for fast treatment. The terms heart failure and congestive heart failure are often used interchangeably. With heart failure, the heart isn’t pumping blood out of the heart as vigorously as it should. When this happens, your cells can’t get enough oxygen. Heart failure symptoms come on gradually. It’s a chronic condition. If you’re diagnosed with heart failure, your health care provider will talk to you about treatment options. Lifestyle changes are almost certain to be among their recommendations. You’ll be encouraged to adopt a healthy eating pattern, stay physically active and reduce stress. Experts in heart care The medical providers at the CMH Heart Institute Clinic are experts in heart care: John F. Best, M.D., FACP, FACC, FSCAI Dishang Bhavsar, M.D. Stephen Davis, M.D. Haris Riaz, M.D. Kyla Inman, FNP-C What to know about heart failure Ask your primary care provider any questions you have about heart failure. Your provider may refer you to the CMH Heart Institute Clinic. Call 417-328-6040 to learn more. Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Symptoms of heart failure Symptoms vary depending on what kind of heart failure you have and how severe it is. Mild heart failure may have no noticeable symptoms outside of hard exertion. Symptoms to watch for include: S hortness of breath. S welling in the legs. F atigue. E xcessive coughing. W eakness. T rouble concentrating. D ifficulty walking. S udden weight change.
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