Get a FREE handbook
What is Heart Failure?
The words can be misleading. “Heart Failure” doesn’t mean the heart has stopped working. It means the heart can’t pump properly, so it can’t meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen.
Heart Failure can change the structure of your heart in 2 ways
-
A Stretched Heart Muscle
Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) means the heart muscle is too stretched and weak to pump out the blood the body needs.
A Thickened Heart Muscle
Heart Failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) means the walls of the heart chamber are too stiff to relax properly, so not enough blood is allowed to get in. The result is less blood being pumped out to the body.
Did you know?
-
Over 6 million people in the US have Heart Failure.
1 in 5 people will develop Heart Failure in their lifetime.
Heart Failure causes nearly 2 hospitalizations every minute.
Heart Failure Is Often Misunderstood
People with Heart Failure often have other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, COPD, or obesity. Because some of these symptoms may overlap, people with Heart Failure may receive treatments designed for other conditions. Fortunately, there are now treatments designed specifically for Heart Failure.
Do you recognize these signs?
The common symptoms of Heart Failure are:
Shortness of breath
Swelling
Trouble breathing while sleeping or lying flat
Coughing
Confusion
Fatigued or feeling tired
Learn more about the symptoms here.
Sign up for a free Heart Failure Handbook
Get a free Heart Failure Handbook when you register for the Keep It Pumping support program. It’s filled with useful tips and tools to help you manage the condition.
Start prepping for the conversation
Get a Doctor Discussion Guide for a personalized conversation that can help you and your doctor decide on the best ways to manage your Heart Failure.