Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Parrish Medical Center - (Page 17)

WHAT IS HEART FAILURE? The heart is a pump. Deoxygenated blood enters the heart from the body, the heart pumps the blood into the lungs for oxygenation and ﬁltering, and then circulates the blood back into the body to distribute to the extremities, organs and tissues. In heart failure, “the heart is so weak it can’t push enough blood out to the body to meet its needs or it can’t move enough blood through [itself] so it pools in the lungs and tissues,” says Ann Bolger, M.D., an American Heart Association spokeswoman. Over time, symptoms develop, which include shortness of breath (especially upon exertion or when lying down), swelling in the feet and ankles, and general fatigue, Bolger says. The Art of Healing Hearts Your Parrish Medical Center cardiovascular care team understands that every heart is special and unique. At PMC, the art of healing hearts blends the precision of science with the colorful palette of the human experience to enhance the quality of life. PMC is nationally designated as a HeartCaring hospital by the Spirit of Women Hospital Network for excellence in gender-sensitive cardiovascular care. Health is action! Take a FREE seven-minute online cardiovascular risk assessment and receive a FREE consultation with a PMC heart-health expert. Go to parrishmed.com/ heartaware. The Joint Commission has also awarded PMC a Gold Seal of Approval for excellence in treatment of acute coronary syndrome (heart attack), one of nine Joint Commission Gold Seals earned by PMC. Learn more about PMC’s cardiovascular care program at parrishmed.com under “Programs & Services.” HOW IS HEART FAILURE TREATED? WHAT CAUSES HEART FAILURE? Numerous disease processes can cause heart failure, Bolger says, but the most common cause is uncontrolled high blood pressure over a period of years. High blood pressure occurs when blood vessels constrict or are built up with plaque caused by cholesterol. The extra force the heart must exert to push the blood through tightened vessels makes the cardiac muscle grow, stiffening the walls of the heart. The stiffer walls eventually reduce the force with which the heart can pump, leading to heart failure. A weakened heart can be caused by other conditions as well, such as trauma to the muscle from a heart attack or a viral infection, coronary artery disease, kidney problems, smoking and diabetes, Bolger says. Additionally, obesity contributes to heart failure. “If the body gets too large, the strain on the heart can be tremendous,” she says. “Obesity is a real risk factor.” Once a diagnosis of heart failure is made—through ultrasounds and X-rays of the heart and lungs and other tests— the patient has numerous treatment avenues, Bolger says. Medications are prescribed to increase the heart’s pumping ability, reduce ﬂuid retention and control blood pressure. But drugs alone are not enough. “No medicine is as powerful as common sense,” Bolger says. “There is no magic pill.” Heart failure patients must stop smoking and follow a diet that reduces salt and fat intake. Bolger stresses the importance of a daily regimen. Taking all the prescribed medications, eating a proper diet, controlling blood pressure and notifying the healthcare provider of changes in body weight or increased shortness of breath are crucial, she says. Heart failure is a chronic condition, but with proper maintenance, it can be managed. “We can’t cure it, necessarily, but we can help,” she says. PHOTOGRAPHY BY VEER ONLiNE What Does Heart Failure Look Like? For an interactive presentation about heart failure, go to parrishmed.com/emmi. Self-register for “Heart Failure” under the “Heart Disease” category. Vim & Vigor · SPRI NG 2011 17 http://www.parrishmed.com/heartaware http://www.parrishmed.com/heartaware http://www.parrishmed.com http://www.parrishmed.com/emmi

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Parrish Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Parrish Medical Center
Table of Contents
Tasty Tips
Opening Thoughts
Community Calendar
What’s New?
Watch Your Step
A Workout for Every Mood
Don’t Fail Your Heart
If Your Bones Could Talk
Healthy Travels
Over 40 and Fabulous
Do-It-Yourself Health?
Fighting Words
Balancing Act
Giving & Getting
Fitness & Wellness Go Hand in Hand
Stopping PAD in Its Tracks
Community Health
Foundation Focus
Ask the Expert

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Parrish Medical Center