At Sentara, we offer heart failure medical centers to help people with all stages of heart failure. Our doctors provide hope to thousands of patients every year with comprehensive treatments and personalized care.
We bring together heart surgeons, electrophysiologists and cardiac rehab therapists to assist you. We also connect you with your own patient navigator to guide you through tests and treatments.
Heart failure is a chronic disease that occurs when your weakened heart struggles to pump blood. It makes everyday activities more difficult. You can experience several types of heart failure, including congestive heart failure, left-sided heart failure and right-sided heart failure.
Some people do not experience any heart failure symptoms. Others experience symptoms for a short time and then they disappear. For those who do experience symptoms, they may include:
- Appetite loss or nausea
- Chronic cough
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the abdomen, ankles, legs or other parts of your body
Heart failure typically occurs because of damage to your heart from a heart condition, such as:
- Arrhythmia and heart rhythm disorders
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Heart valve disease
Other medical conditions, including diabetes, severe lung disease and sleep apnea, can also lead to heart failure.
Your risk of heart failure may increase if you are overweight, drink excessively, smoke or take certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, overall health and family history. He or she may also run blood tests and recommend cardiac imaging and diagnostic tests.
If you have less severe heart failure, your doctor may prescribe medications. If your condition advances, you and your doctor will consider our open-heart and minimally invasive heart failure treatments.
Our cardiac rehab specialists and Ornish Lifestyle Medicine can help you safely improve your heart health.
Call 1-800-SENTARA (1-800-736-8272) to learn more.