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

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.

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

Heart failure can happen in two ways. The heart muscle may become weak and enlarged (systolic dysfunction). The weakened muscle doesn't pump enough blood forward when the ventricles contract. Or, the heart muscle may become stiff (diastolic dysfunction). The stiff muscle can't relax between contractions, which keeps the ventricles from filling with enough blood.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

Learn the home care necessary to care for yourself when you have been diagnosed with heart failure.

Left-sided heart failure can cause shortness of breath and trouble breathing. Learn about treatment and home care for this condition.

Swelling in the feet and ankles is one of the first signs of right-sided heart failure. Learn how this condition is treated.