Heart failure -- the expression alone is scary. The idea that the blood-pumping organ in our chest can struggle, stutter, or suddenly stop is deeply disconcerting. But for those diagnosed with the disease, the future is not necessarily bleak. With the right treatments, exercise, good nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle, people with heart failure can improve their condition and live well. Heart failure expert Edward K. Kasper teams with journalist -- and survivor -- Mary Knudson to give readers an honest account of this misunderstood disease. The authors explain the complex science of heart failure and look critically at the care available. Living Well with Heart Failure will help those with the disease and their loved ones understand:The causes of the diseaseNormal and abnormal heart rhythmsHow to recognize symptoms and when to seek treatmentWhich diagnostic tests to expect The best treatments for different types of heart failureHow pacemakers workThe advantages and disadvantages of implantable cardioverter defibrillatorsHow to be safer in a hospitalWhat exercises result in increased heart, leg, arm, and core body strength What foods to eat Informed by the shared knowledge of doctor and patient, those diagnosed with heart failure will learn how to effectively manage the disease in this comprehensive and compassionate guide.
Introduction Part I: The Causes and Diagnosis of Heart Failure 1. What Is This Thing Called Heart Failure? 2. Coronary Artery Disease: The Major Cause of Heart Failure 3. Cardiomyopathy: A Leading Cause of Heart Failure 4. Diagnosing Heart Failure and Its Causes Part II: Treatments for Heart Failure 5. Drug Treatments 6. Conversations of the Heart: Arrhythmias and Pacemakers 7. Straight Talk about Sudden Death: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator? 8. Surgical Treatments 9. Device Treatments for the Critically Ill 10. Getting a New Heart 11. Future Therapies Part III: The Challenges of Living with Heart Failure 12. Nutrition and Heart Failure, by Samantha Heller 13. Exercise: How Much and What Kind? 14. The Patient-Doctor Therapeutic Relationship 15. What You Need to Know about the Hospital 16. Heart Failure in Elderly People 17. What You Can Do for Yourself 18. Where to Find More Information Epilogue Appreciation Appendix: Trade Names and Generic Names of Drugs Notes on Sources Index
""A book that will enable people to begin learning the basics of heart failure'its causes, symptoms, treatment, and challenges.""
