Heart Failure Care
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure occurs when the heart doesn’t pump as efficiently as it should to deliver oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the body. This results in fatigue, shortness of breath and fluid retention that can permanently damage your heart. This does not develop suddenly, but happens over time as the heart’s pumping ability declines and cannot keep up with the workload.
Diagnosing Heart Failure
Cardiologists use a variety of cardiac diagnostic tests to identify heart failure, including electrocardiography (ECG or EKG), ultrasound (echocardiography) and cardiac catheterization.,
Treating Heart Failure
- Medications: pills or intravenous medications to control heart failure symptoms
- Diet and lifestyle changes: eating a low sodium, low fat diet and adding a workout routine
- Treatment of irregular heart rhythms: including implantable devices like a pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator
- Cardiac surgery or stenting: to replace valves or unblock arteries
- Heart Transplant
- Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD): or other mechanical support
Convenient Access to Expert Heart Care
Hackensack Meridian Health offers patients access to innovative surgical procedures at these two major academic medical centers, as well as highly coordinated treatment and cardiac rehabilitation services through our integrated network of hospitals located close to home.
