EXTENDING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR |EART HEART FAILURE PATIENTS Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute Experts Offering More Treatment Options for Patients blood-tinged mucus Swelling of the belly area (abdomen) Very rapid weight gain from fluid buildup Nausea and lack of appetite Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness Chest pain if heart failure is caused by a heart attack failure. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association created a classification system for patients to help determine next steps: What It Means When Your Heart 'Fails Heart failure can involve the left side (left ventricle), right side (right ventricle) or both sides of your heart. Generally, heart failure begins with the left side, specifically the left ventricle -your heart's main pumping chamber. It often develops after other conditions have damaged or weakened the heart. Stage A. There are severai risk factors for heart failure but no signs or symptoms. Stage B. There is heart disease but no signs or symptoms of heart failure. Stage C. There is heart disease and signs or symptoms of heart failure. Stage D. Advanced heart failure requires specialized treatments. is a wide variety of medications doctors can choose from to treat heart failure, depending on symptoms. The majority of heart failure patients can be managed with medications and lifestyle modifications, but surgery or other procedures Th In heart failure, the main pumping chambers of the heart (the ventricles) may become stiff and not fill properly between beats. In some people, the heart muscle may become damaged. and weakened. The ventricles may stretch to the point that the to implant cardiac devices may be recommended to treat the Xingchen Mai, MD, left, speaks with cardiology nurse practitioner Mary Ann Savaria, APRN, in one of the exam heart can't pump enough blood through the body. rooms at the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Insti- tute located at 111 Salem Turnpike in Norwich. Dr. Mai is an advanced heart failure specialist with the Heart & demands placed on it to pump blood to the rest of the body. Vascular Institute underlying problem that led to heart failure. Over time, the heart can no longer keep up with the typical Surgery or other procedures for heart failure may include: Coronary bypass surgery. The procedure involves taking a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest and connecting it below and above the blocked arteries in your heart. The new pathway improves blood flow to your heart muscle. Causes of Heart Failure Heart failure is exactly what it sounds like - when the body's most important musele doesn't work properly. When the heart Coronary artery disease and heart attack. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure. The disease build up in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, or in the legs, results from the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, which reduces blood flow and can lead to heart attack. A heart attack occurs suddenly when a coronary artery becomes completely doesn't pump blood effectively, fluid often backs up and can causing swelling This is commonly referred to as congestive heart failure, and it can be life-threatening. Heart valve repair or replacement. Surgeons can repair the valve by reconnecting valve flaps or by removing excess valve tissue so that the leaflets can close tightly. Sometimes repairing blocked. Damage to your heart muscle from a heart attack may the valve includes tightening or replacing the ring around Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health issue. As many as one in five people are expected to develop HF during their lifetime. mean that your heart can no longer pump as well as it should. the valve. High blood pressure. High blood pressure means your heart has to work harder than it should to circulate blood throughout similar to a pacemaker and is used to prevent arrhythmia your body. Over time, this extra exertion can make your heart muscle too stiff or too weak to properly pump blood. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDS). An ICD is a device There are two pieces of good news, however. The first is by being proactive, and choosing a lifestyle conducive to good heart health, you can stave off heart failure later in life. If you've already racked up some bad choices, making changes to Faulty heart valves. The valves of the heart keep blood flowing your lifestyle can help improve your health. complications of heart failure. It's implanted under the skin in your chest with wires leading through your veins and into your heart. in the proper direction. A damaged valve - due to a heart defect, coronary artery disease or heart infection- forces the heart to work harder, which can weaken it over time. The key to preventing heart failure is to reduce your risk factors. Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent heart failure include: Not smoking Controlling certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes taying physically active Eating healthy foods Maintaining á healthy weight Reducing and managing stress Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Also called biven- tricular pacing, CRT is a treatment for heart failure in people whose lower heart chambers (ventricles) aren't pumping in syne with each other. A device called a biventricular pacemaker sends electrical signals to the ventricles. The signals trigger your ventricles to contract in a more coordinated way, which improves the pumping of blood out of your heart. CRT may be used with an ICD. Damage to the heart muscle. Heart muscle damage can have many causes, including certain diseases, infection, heavy alcohol use, and the toxic effect of drugs, such as cocaine or some drugs used for chemotherapy. Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). Myocarditis is most commonly caused by a virus, including the COVID-19 virus, and can lead to left-sided heart failure. Ventricular assist devices (VADS). A VAD - also known as a mechanical circulatory support device - is a device that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (ventricles) to the rest of your body. Although a VAD can be placed in one or both ventricles of your heart, it is most frequently implanted in The other good news is that there is emerging evidence that suggests drugs called sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) valves haven't formed correctly, the healthy parts of your heart the left ventricle. inhibitors may be effective in prevention of HF in patients with have to work harder to pump blood, which may lead to (and without) comorbid type 2 diabetes (T2D). A recent meta-analysis of three studies showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors, as a class, reduced the risk of hospitalization with HF by 31 percent. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes often also have congestive heart failure. Congenital heart defect. If your heart and its chambers or heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Abnormal heart rhythms may cause your heart to beat too fast, creating extra work for your heart. A slow heartbeat also may lead to heart failure. Heart transplant. Some people have such severe heart failure that surgery or medications don't help. A team of doctors at a transplant center will evaluate you to determine whether the procedure may be safe and beneficial for you. Dr. Mai is accepting new patients at 111 Salem Tumpike, Norwich. (860)886.0023 Symptoms of Heart Failure Other diseases. Diabetes, HIV, an overactive or underactive thyroid, or a buildup of iron or protein- also may contribute to chronic heart failure. Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down Fatigue and weakness Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet Rapid or irregular heartbeat Reduced ability to exercise Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink To learn more about the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute, visit hartfordhealthcare.org/heart. I Have Heart Failure - Now What? Doctors have an array of tests they can use to diagnose heart Hartford HealthCare EXTENDING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR |EART HEART FAILURE PATIENTS Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute Experts Offering More Treatment Options for Patients blood-tinged mucus Swelling of the belly area (abdomen) Very rapid weight gain from fluid buildup Nausea and lack of appetite Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness Chest pain if heart failure is caused by a heart attack failure. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association created a classification system for patients to help determine next steps: What It Means When Your Heart 'Fails Heart failure can involve the left side (left ventricle), right side (right ventricle) or both sides of your heart. Generally, heart failure begins with the left side, specifically the left ventricle -your heart's main pumping chamber. It often develops after other conditions have damaged or weakened the heart. Stage A. There are severai risk factors for heart failure but no signs or symptoms. Stage B. There is heart disease but no signs or symptoms of heart failure. Stage C. There is heart disease and signs or symptoms of heart failure. Stage D. Advanced heart failure requires specialized treatments. is a wide variety of medications doctors can choose from to treat heart failure, depending on symptoms. The majority of heart failure patients can be managed with medications and lifestyle modifications, but surgery or other procedures Th In heart failure, the main pumping chambers of the heart (the ventricles) may become stiff and not fill properly between beats. In some people, the heart muscle may become damaged. and weakened. The ventricles may stretch to the point that the to implant cardiac devices may be recommended to treat the Xingchen Mai, MD, left, speaks with cardiology nurse practitioner Mary Ann Savaria, APRN, in one of the exam heart can't pump enough blood through the body. rooms at the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Insti- tute located at 111 Salem Turnpike in Norwich. Dr. Mai is an advanced heart failure specialist with the Heart & demands placed on it to pump blood to the rest of the body. Vascular Institute underlying problem that led to heart failure. Over time, the heart can no longer keep up with the typical Surgery or other procedures for heart failure may include: Coronary bypass surgery. The procedure involves taking a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest and connecting it below and above the blocked arteries in your heart. The new pathway improves blood flow to your heart muscle. Causes of Heart Failure Heart failure is exactly what it sounds like - when the body's most important musele doesn't work properly. When the heart Coronary artery disease and heart attack. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure. The disease build up in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, or in the legs, results from the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, which reduces blood flow and can lead to heart attack. A heart attack occurs suddenly when a coronary artery becomes completely doesn't pump blood effectively, fluid often backs up and can causing swelling This is commonly referred to as congestive heart failure, and it can be life-threatening. Heart valve repair or replacement. Surgeons can repair the valve by reconnecting valve flaps or by removing excess valve tissue so that the leaflets can close tightly. Sometimes repairing blocked. Damage to your heart muscle from a heart attack may the valve includes tightening or replacing the ring around Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health issue. As many as one in five people are expected to develop HF during their lifetime. mean that your heart can no longer pump as well as it should. the valve. High blood pressure. High blood pressure means your heart has to work harder than it should to circulate blood throughout similar to a pacemaker and is used to prevent arrhythmia your body. Over time, this extra exertion can make your heart muscle too stiff or too weak to properly pump blood. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDS). An ICD is a device There are two pieces of good news, however. The first is by being proactive, and choosing a lifestyle conducive to good heart health, you can stave off heart failure later in life. If you've already racked up some bad choices, making changes to Faulty heart valves. The valves of the heart keep blood flowing your lifestyle can help improve your health. complications of heart failure. It's implanted under the skin in your chest with wires leading through your veins and into your heart. in the proper direction. A damaged valve - due to a heart defect, coronary artery disease or heart infection- forces the heart to work harder, which can weaken it over time. The key to preventing heart failure is to reduce your risk factors. Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent heart failure include: Not smoking Controlling certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes taying physically active Eating healthy foods Maintaining á healthy weight Reducing and managing stress Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Also called biven- tricular pacing, CRT is a treatment for heart failure in people whose lower heart chambers (ventricles) aren't pumping in syne with each other. A device called a biventricular pacemaker sends electrical signals to the ventricles. The signals trigger your ventricles to contract in a more coordinated way, which improves the pumping of blood out of your heart. CRT may be used with an ICD. Damage to the heart muscle. Heart muscle damage can have many causes, including certain diseases, infection, heavy alcohol use, and the toxic effect of drugs, such as cocaine or some drugs used for chemotherapy. Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). Myocarditis is most commonly caused by a virus, including the COVID-19 virus, and can lead to left-sided heart failure. Ventricular assist devices (VADS). A VAD - also known as a mechanical circulatory support device - is a device that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (ventricles) to the rest of your body. Although a VAD can be placed in one or both ventricles of your heart, it is most frequently implanted in The other good news is that there is emerging evidence that suggests drugs called sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) valves haven't formed correctly, the healthy parts of your heart the left ventricle. inhibitors may be effective in prevention of HF in patients with have to work harder to pump blood, which may lead to (and without) comorbid type 2 diabetes (T2D). A recent meta-analysis of three studies showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors, as a class, reduced the risk of hospitalization with HF by 31 percent. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes often also have congestive heart failure. Congenital heart defect. If your heart and its chambers or heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Abnormal heart rhythms may cause your heart to beat too fast, creating extra work for your heart. A slow heartbeat also may lead to heart failure. Heart transplant. Some people have such severe heart failure that surgery or medications don't help. A team of doctors at a transplant center will evaluate you to determine whether the procedure may be safe and beneficial for you. Dr. Mai is accepting new patients at 111 Salem Tumpike, Norwich. (860)886.0023 Symptoms of Heart Failure Other diseases. Diabetes, HIV, an overactive or underactive thyroid, or a buildup of iron or protein- also may contribute to chronic heart failure. Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down Fatigue and weakness Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet Rapid or irregular heartbeat Reduced ability to exercise Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink To learn more about the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute, visit hartfordhealthcare.org/heart. I Have Heart Failure - Now What? Doctors have an array of tests they can use to diagnose heart Hartford HealthCare