Q: I've been diagnosed with heart failure. How do I care for it?

Ask Our Expert About Heart Failure

• I've been diagnosed with heart failure. How do I care for it?
• How can the clinical trial improve care for patients with heart failure?
• Can I participate in the clinical trial?

Q: I've been diagnosed with heart failure. How do I care for it?

A: Heart failure is a disease in which the heart muscle gets progressively weaker and becomes unable to pump effectively enough to meet the body's need for blood and oxygen. This condition often causes shortness of breath, tiredness, a persistent cough and swelling of the legs and feet. Heart failure becomes more common with age. You are at increased risk for developing heart failure if you are overweight, have high blood pressure, coronary artery disease or diabetes, smoke or abuse alcohol, or had a previous heart attack. Although there is no cure, heart failure can be managed to allow you to live an active life.

Heart failure is most often treated with medication, a healthy diet and exercise. If you need hospital care, our Center for Advanced Heart Failure is staffed by doctors and nurses who are specialists in treating the complex health issues associated with heart failure. Our specialists also are conducting a clinical trial to find new and better ways to care for the disease.

Q: How can the clinical trial improve care for patients with heart failure?

A: When patients with advanced heart failure retain water, they often need to be admitted to the hospital. Water retention causes them to have trouble breathing, sleeping and performing physical activity. Our study is looking at the effectiveness of an implantable device that detects increased pressure inside the heart due to fluid retention. By holding a device to their chest, patients participating in the trial transmit information to the hospital over phone lines. Physicians use the information to determine if medications need to be adjusted because the pressure is too high or low. The study will determine if hospitalizations can be avoided when fluid retention is detected early and addressed quickly.

Q: Can I participate in the clinical trial?

A: Yes. You qualify if all of the following apply to you:

• Heart failure sometimes interferes with your daily activities.
• You have, or are at risk of having, an irregular heartbeat requiring an implantable defibrillator.
• You take medication to control your heart failure.
• You've been hospitalized or received emergency care for heart failure within the past year.

You do not qualify if any of the following apply to you:

• Your heart failure requires you to always be resting.
• You have kidney disease.
• Your doctor has given you a life expectancy of 12 months or less.
• You are enrolled in another clinical trial.

If you are interested in participating, call 610-402-CARE.

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