Offering Effective Care for Heart Failure in Arizona

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, refers to a condition in which the heart gradually loses the ability to effectively pump blood throughout the body.

People with heart failure often feel fatigued quickly and experience shortness of breath with physical exertion. If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, Chandler Regional Medical Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center offer a full range of cardiac care, along with access to clinical research for heart failure in Arizona, to improve patient outcomes.

Identifying Heart Failure Symptoms

The most common symptoms of congestive heart failure include:

• Fatigue
• Breathlessness with physical activity
• Weakness
• Weight gain
• Swelling in the legs or feet
• Feeling like you sleep better when propped up on pillows
• Chest pain or congestion 

If you have one or more of these symptoms, a heart doctor at Dignity Health can perform an evaluation to diagnose the problem. For personalized care, Find a Doctor today.

Heart Failure Causes

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is weakened from being overworked or damaged. This stress or damage to the heart muscle can be caused by a heart attack or untreated heart disease.

Other causes of heart failure include: 

• High blood pressure
• Coronary artery disease
• Irregular or abnormal heart rhythm
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Heart valve disorders
• Substance abuse
• Untreated anemia

Heart Failure Treatment & Prevention at Dignity Health

When you visit a cardiologist at Dignity Health for heart failure treatment, your doctor will work to reduce your risk factors and slow the advancement of the disease.

While heart failure cannot be reversed or cured, there are a wide range of therapies that can help ease symptoms and prevent life-threatening complications, including:

• Lifestyle changes
• Physical therapy designed specifically for people with heart failure
• Medications
• Home oxygen therapy
• Surgery
• Heart transplant

Together with your health care provider, you can take steps to prevent congestive heart failure. This includes a heart-healthy diet, avoiding processed foods, and limiting salt intake. Along with diet, your doctor will help you create an exercise plan that fits your needs. If you currently smoke or use illicit drugs, your doctor will advise you to stop. If you have an underlying heart problem, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, your doctor will create a treatment plan to manage your condition so that it doesn’t get worse.