BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a serious disease with no cure that affects the function of the entire body. It is a chronic, progressive condition where the heart cannot keep up with its workload. Heart failure does not mean that the heart is no longer working, it just means it is not working as well as it should be. When the heart is failing, it isn't pumping blood to other parts of the body like it did before. Your body depends on the heart in order to pump blood and deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. When the body's cells aren't nourished properly, the body can no longer function normally. When the heart begins to fail, the weakened heart can no longer supply the body's cells with enough blood which can result in many serious complications. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires timely medical attention. With CHF, blood returning through the veins backs up which causes congestion in the body's tissues. This can often lead to swelling called edema. Often times this swelling is seen in the legs and ankles. (Source: Click here)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Some of the results of heart failure can be:
· Fatigue
· Shortness of breath
· Persistent coughing
· Wheezing
· Edema
· Impaired thinking
· Increased heart rate
· Lack of appetite or nausea
· Everyday activities become difficult such as: climbing stairs, walking, or carrying groceries
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NEW TECHNOLOGY: Traditional treatment for heart failure includes lifestyle changes and medication but a CardioMems monitor has been developed to better treat patients with CHF. Michael Mathier, MD, Cardiologist at UPMC said "Survival for this disease is much lower than we would like it to be. We're always seeking new solutions to help people have a better quality of life." The CardioMems device is a small, wireless pressure transducer that can be implanted into the pulmonary artery. It can tell doctors remotely what the pressure is within that vessel and allows doctors to make adjustments to medications much earlier than they've ever done before. (Source: Michael Mathier, MD)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
UPMC Presbyterian (HVI at UPMC Presbyterian)
200 Lothrop St. Suite 5B
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-647-6000