H
TURNING HEART FAILURE
INTO HEART SUCCESS
eart failure is a growing public health challenge
worldwide. Nearly six million individuals are currently living with heart failure and one in five
Americans will develop it over the course of their lifetime.
Heart failure is a serious condition, and usually there's no
cure. A normal healthy heart can pump blood to the body to
meet even strenuous demands. Circulating blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, and removes waste products.
A weakened heart muscle has difficulty performing this task,
which leads to fluid (water) back-up in the lungs and other
parts of the body such as the feet, ankles, legs, hands and
abdomen. Fluid retention then makes pumping even more
difficult. The body needs blood constantly pumped through
it, carrying oxygen and other nutrients to bones, nerves and
organs. With heart failure, the weakened heart can't supply
the cells with enough blood. This results in fatigue and shortness of breath and some people have coughing. Everyday
activities such as walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries