Heart Failure

When something feels wrong and you don’t know why, it can throw your everything in your life off balance. We can help you find your way forward. With answers come treatment, so the sooner you come in for a test, the sooner we can help you feel more like yourself again.

A diagnosis of heart failure can be the first step down a path toward better heart health. The nutritionists and fitness experts at AdventHealth will partner with you to devise a wholesome diet that’s low in sodium and an exercise plan that’s good for your heart. Our team can also offer guidance and support to help you take charge of your health by learning how to manage your stress, lose weight, or quit smoking.

Within our network, we’re equipped with the latest technology to diagnose your heart failure, follow your progress, and make sure you’re receiving the treatment you need, including:

• Blood Tests
• Cardiac Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
• Chest X-Ray
• Coronary Angiogram
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Myocardial Biopsy
• Physical Exam
• Stress Test

Despite its name, chronic heart failure doesn’t mean that your heart isn’t working — it just means your heart is working harder to pump blood throughout your body. It’s a serious condition and requires expert care, but with timely heart failure treatment and healthy lifestyle changes, you can give your heart the support it needs, especially if you take the time to know your risk factors.

You may have a higher risk of developing heart failure if you have a history of heart disease, heart attacks, kidney disease, or high blood pressure (hypertension). Your physicians can help you understand your risk, make heart-healthy changes to your lifestyle, and closely monitor your wellness. They’ll also watch for signs of dilated cardiomyopathy, a common cause of heart failure that happens when the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) becomes enlarged.

Heart failure can vary in cause and area, and can include:

• Congestive heart failure, which causes fluid back-ups in the lungs and surrounding tissue and is the most serious.
• Right-sided heart failure, which is caused by issues when the blood comes back into the heart and lungs.
• Left-sided heart failure, which refers to difficulty pumping oxygen-rich blood out into the body.

Visit your cardiologist as soon as possible if you experience two or more of these common symptoms of heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy:

• Appetite Loss or Nausea
• Bloated Stomach or Weight Gain
• Congested Lungs
• Decreased Alertness or Difficulty Concentrating
• Dizziness or Faintness
• Fatigue, Weakness, or Lightheadedness
• Persistent Coughing or Wheezing
• Rapid or Irregular Heartbeats
• Reduced Ability to Exercise
• Shortness of Breath
• Swollen Legs, Ankles, or Feet

Nothing can hold you back from fully embracing life. Sometimes, your heart just needs a little extra help. That’s what we’re here for. Throughout our network, our physicians are renowned for their exceptional expertise and compassion, and AdventHealth Orlando is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best hospitals for heart failure treatment.

In some cases, heart failure can be medically managed. Your physician will work closely with you to help treat your symptoms and breathe easier using medications that might include:

• ACE Inhibitors
• Angiotensin II
• Beta-Blockers
• Blood Thinners
• Calcium Blockers
• Digoxin
• Diuretics
• Nitrates

We deliver the latest life-changing surgical and noninvasive heart failure treatments, including:

• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), or Biventricular Pacing
• Coronary Bypass Surgery
• Heart Transplant
• Heart Valve Repair or Replacement
• Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs)
• Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs)