Heart Failure Care
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Different from a heart attack, heart failure is a chronic, long-term condition that prevents the heart from functioning effectively.
Heart care specialists at Merit Health Central utilize advanced diagnostic technology to determine the cause and extent of heart failure. Doctors and nurses who specialize in heart failure provide a management program that offers:
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Medical management - Medications are used to lower blood pressure, eliminate excess water, prevent clotting, slow heart rate or alter hormones that affect the heart. Cardiologists can develop a program that combines medication and lifestyle changes to effectively manage heart failure.
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Risk-factor management - Lifestyle changes such as losing weight and eating more healthfully, controlling blood pressure, abstaining from alcohol and smoking, and getting enough rest can help improve heart health and prevent further damage.
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Minimally invasive cardiac catheterization techniques - Outpatient procedures such as angioplasty and stent placement are used to open blocked arteries.
Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most accurate and least invasive ways for doctors to obtain images of the body's soft tissue, such as organs and muscles. In the past, patients with pacemakers were recommended not to get MRIs because it can interrupt the pacemaker function. The implantable pacing system can be programmed via remote prior to and after the test, making it relatively safe for use during an MRI.