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PUBLICATION: Community Impact INSERTION: 02/24/21 MATERIALS DUE: 02/16/21 JOB NUMBER: MHH-2020 Advertising-Jan CLIENT: Memorial Hermann JOB NAME: Heart ReEntry Ad LIVE: N/A SIZE: 9.1837" x 11.25" BLEED: N/A COLORS: 4cp/0; 150 ls; SWOP FORMAT: Press Ready PDF
FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH HEART FAILURE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW
Over 6million American adults suffer fromheart failure, and that number is expected to grow to 8 million by 2030 according to the American Heart Association. What is heart failure? What causes it? How can it be managed? And is there a linkage between COVID-19 and heart failure? Cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure specialist Aamir Abbas, MD, answers these and other frequently asked questions about heart failure. Dr. Abbas is an assistant professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He is affiliated with Memorial Hermann Health System and sees patients at the Center for Advanced Heart Failure at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and the Center for Advanced Cardiology at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital. What is heart failure? In simple terms, heart failure occurs when the heart cannot adequately supply blood to the rest of the body. What are the symptoms? The most common symptoms are increased shortness of breath, increased fatigue on exertion and signs of f luid retention, like swelling in the legs. Less common symptoms include shortness of breath at night or when lying down, or worsening cough. Is heart failure the same thing as heart attack? No, they’re very different. A heart attack is caused by a sudden blockage of an artery in the heart, and it presents with symptoms such as chest pain, or what we call angina. A heart attack can lead to heart failure. A sudden heart attack or the long-term effects of heart attacks are usually the most common reasons for a patient to develop heart failure. What are the causes? There are many ways a patient can develop heart failure. There are many different structures of the heart, and if any of them are not functioning normally, that can lead to heart failure. The heart muscle can weaken, due to a heart attack, for instance, or from a genetic
abnormality or a virus. Sometimes the cause of the weakness is unknown. Heart failure can also be caused by stress on the heart from other diseases, such as poorly controlled high blood pressure (hypertension), which can thicken the heart muscle. Obesity is a risk factor, as it is tied with a lot of other medical problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes. And finally, heart failure can be caused by an abnormality of one of the heart valves, which we can typically replace or repair. Are some people more susceptible than others? Yes, people with almost any cardiovascular condition are at higher risk of developing heart failure, including people who have had a heart attack or have major blockages in their arteries. Individuals with a family history of heart failure are at greater risk, as are people with underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Heart failure can also be caused by cer tain genet ic abnorma l it ies and cer tain medications, including chemotherapy medications. How is it diagnosed? We’ ll first meet with a patient to talk about their symptoms and health history and will perform a physician examination. If heart failure is suspected, we’ l l typical ly perform an echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart, which shows how the heart’s chambers and valves are pumping blood through the heart. We can do this test in the office—the clinic—or in the hospital. And there are blood tests that we use to screen for heart failure. How can I prevent getting heart failure? Take care of yourself. See your primary care doctor regularly. They will check your blood pressure and do lab work to check for diabetes and high cholesterol. It is essential to control all of these conditions, typically with medications and lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise. With heart failure, early detection is important. If you are experiencing any symptoms, see your primary care doctor right away. Heart failure is a progressive disease,
and pat ient s have bet ter outcomes when they are treated at earlier stages. And as heart failure progresses, it can lead to negative effects on other organs of the body, particularly the kidneys, and even death. Is there a link between COVID-19 and heart failure? That’s something we’re sti l l learning about. It is possible for
Aamir Abbas, MD Cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure specialist
individuals with COVID-19 to develop heart failure. But we don’t know if that’s because of the virus itself or from complications from it, like pneumonia. What treatments are available for heart failure at Memorial Hermann Katy? Memorial Hermann is very well equipped to treat patients with heart failure. At Memorial Hermann Katy, we can diagnose and treat all types of heart failure. Patients with more advanced heart failure—those who require long-term mechanical circulatory support or heart transplant, for instance—can be easily transferred to the Center for Advanced Heart Failure at Memorial Hermann-TMC. Are there any new advancements on the horizon at Memorial Hermann to treat heart failure? Memorial Hermann participates in several research trials in which we are investigating new and promising devices, procedures and medications for treating heart failure. We routinely screen our patients to see if they would benefit from new advancements in medical therapy and participation in these studies. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of heart attack, seek immediate emergency medical attention. If you believe you are at risk for—or are experiencing symptoms of—heart failure, talk to your primary care physician or a cardiologist right away. Early diagnosis and treatment can extend and improve your quality of life.
To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with a Memorial Hermann affiliated physician, visit memorialhermann.org/heart
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MH22_HeartFailure-Advertorial_CI-Katy_9.1837x11.25 C.indd 1 KATY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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