Heart Failure Program
Information About
Heart Failure
Mercer Health Home Care's Heart Failure
Program is located at Mercer Health's Disease Management
Clinic. The program is coordinated by physicians, nurse
practitioners, and
registered nurses who specialize in helping people live quality
lives through outpatient management of their heart failure.
Our team works with each
patient to:
• Set realistic goals.
• Provide personalized and group education for patients and their families.
• Make consistent clinic visits at Mercer Health Home Care
• Regular telephone monitoring to help prevent major health problems and
hospitalization.
Mercer Health Home Care's Heart Failure Program's specialized team offers the
most recent and promising array of treatment options available. Among these are
proven state-of-the-art
medications, mechanical heart assist devices, and surgical interventions including
resynchronization therapy and transplantation. Patients and their families experience
significant benefits from participating
in the Heart Failure Program, including:
• The opportunity to participate with the team in developing a treatment
plan.
• The assurance that everything possible is being done and that promising
alternatives on the leading edge
of medical science are being explored.
• An enhanced capacity for life as a result of treatment and support. You
will be given regular
instructions and be informed of any changes in
your health.
For more information or to schedule an appointment call: 419-584-0143.
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Information About Heart Failure
The
staff of the Heart Failure Program have prepared some
useful information about heart failure to help
educate
those interested in the topic. The
following pages cover frequently asked questions about heart failure, when
to seek help and the 4D's
of managing heart failure at home.
What are some of the common causes of Congestive Heart
Failure?
•
Coronary artery disease (blockage of the arteries)
•
Damage after a heart attack
•
High blood pressure
•
Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
•
Heart valve problems
•
Chronic rapid or irregular heart beat
What are the common risk factors for heart disease?
• Smoking
• Obesity (over weight)
• Lack of regular exercise
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Stress
•
Diabetes
•
Use of alcohol and illegal drugs
What are the early symptoms of Heart Failure?
• Shortness
of breath, wheezing or coughing when active or when resting
• Weakness or tiredness
• Problems breathing when lying down
• Waking up at night coughing or short of breath
• Swollen ankles or feet
• Dizzy spells
• Chest discomfort
• "Racing" or fast heart beat
Heart Failure Progression
Heart Failure is a chronic and progressive disease. How
long a person might be expected to live with the condition
depends on the cause, stage, and treatment plan. The
New York Heart Association classifies severity of the
symptoms into four classes.
• NYSH I: No limitations;
normal physical activity does not cause symptoms
• NYSH II: Slight
limitation of physical activity; comfortable at rest, but
ordinary
physical activity results in symptoms.
• NYHA III: Marked
limitation of physical activity; comfortable at rest, but
less-than-ordinary physical activity
results in symptoms
• NYHA IV: Inability
to carry on any physical activity without discomfort; symptoms
are present at rest.
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