The Truth About Dealing With Heart Failure
A guide to reducing risks and living well even if you develop the condition Congestive heart failure is a serious illness. But it does not, as is sometimes thought, mean the heart stops altogether. It signifies that the muscle is damaged and can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This condition, which affects 1 in 5 adults—usually in the later years—can shorten life. But with proper treatment, people are living longer and better with heart failure. “We have more medications at our disposal today to improve quality of life for people with a weakened heart,” says Guy L. Mintz, M.D., director of cardiovascular health and lipidology at Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. Here’s what to do. Coronary artery disease and heart attacks are major causes of heart failure, says cardiologist Tamara Horwich, M.D., medical director of UCLA’s cardiac rehabilitation program in Los Angeles. Managing your risk for problems—such as hig...
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