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 who get the diagnosis, the future is not necessarily bleak. With the right treatments and a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and good nutrition, many people with heart failure can improve their condition and live well. Heart failure expert Edward K. Kasper, M.D., teams with journalist-and survivor-Mary Knudson to give readers an honest account of this misunderstood condition. The authors explain the complex science of heart failure and look critically at the care available.Living Well with Heart Failure, the Misnamed, Misunderstood Condition will help readers understand:* The causes of the condition* Normal and abnormal heart rhythms* How to recognize symptoms and when to seek treatment* Which diagnostic tests to expect * The best treatments for different types of heart failure* How pacemakers work* The advantages and disadvantages of implantable cardioverter defibrillators * How to be safer in a hospital* What exercises result in increased heart, leg, arm, and core body strength * What foods to eat and what to avoid Informed by the shared knowledge of doctor and patient, those diagnosed with heart failure and their loved ones will learn how to effectively manage the condition in this comprehensive and compassionate guide.
Edward K. Kasper, M.D., is the E. Cowles Andrus Professor in Cardiology and Director of Clinical Cardiology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Mary Knudson is a national award-winning medical writer and editor. She was diagnosed with heart failure in 2003 and got well.
IntroductionPart I: The Causes and Diagnosis of Heart Failure1. What Is This Thing Called Heart Failure?2. Coronary Artery Disease: The Major Cause of Heart Failure3. Cardiomyopathy: A Leading Cause of Heart Failure4. Diagnosing Heart Failure and Its CausesPart II: Treatments for Heart Failure5. Drug Treatments6. Conversations of the Heart: Arrhythmias and Pacemakers7. Straight Talk about Sudden Death: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?8. Surgical Treatments9. Device Treatments for the Critically Ill10. Getting a New Heart11. Future TherapiesPart III: The Challenges of Living with Heart Failure12. Nutrition and Heart Failure, by Samantha Heller13. Exercise: How Much and What Kind?14. The Patient-Doctor Therapeutic Relationship15. What You Need to Know about the Hospital16. Heart Failure in Elderly People17. What You Can Do for Yourself18. Where to Find More InformationEpilogueAppreciationAppendix: Trade Names and Generic Names of DrugsNotes on SourcesIndex
A bad ticker doesn't mean a bad life. Living Well with Heart Failure, the Misnamed, Misunderstood Condition is a complete and comprehensive guide to heart failure. Midwest Book Review 2010 A book that will enable people to begin learning the basics of heart failure-its causes, symptoms, treatment, and challenges. -- Neil A. Grauer Hopkins Reader 2010