Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure

If you have congestive heart failure or advanced heart failure, you may experience these symptoms which will get worse over time if they are not treated:

• Feeling weak and tired
• Feeling short of breath
• Retaining fluid in your feet, legs
• Retaining fluid in your stomach and as a result feeling full sooner and losing your appetite

Congestive Heart Failure Treatments

• Medication is used treat early stages of heart failure. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to improve the health of your heart.
• Heart Transplant is a treatment for advanced heart failure. The ideal heart transplant candidate is a person with end-stage heart disease or advanced heart failure, but with all other major organs in good shape and functioning efficiently.
• LVAD, VAD (ventricular assist device), Impella heart pumps are used for patients waiting for a heart transplant. These devices sustain your weakened heart by helping it pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. You may require another major surgery, but need temporary support for the heart. These devices allow the heart to rest, heal and grow stronger before the stress of surgery. An LVAD also enables patients to recover more quickly from a massive heart attack and significant heart muscle damage. The CHI St. Vincent Infirmary is recognized as a Joint Commission Certified Center of Excellence for its Left-Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) program.
  

Congestive Heart Failure Specialists

Our specialists work closely with your primary care physician and cardiologist to ensure you receive the treatment you need. Ask your doctor to refer you to one of our heart failure specialists.