Heart Failure

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.

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What Is Heart Failure?

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.

Heart Failure Symptoms

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 Causes and Risk Factors

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).

Heart Failure Diagnosis

Heart Failure Treatment

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