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The Heart Failure Program at Loma Linda University International Heart Institute aims to provide patients and their families with the education and support they need to stay healthy and improve quality of life. Heart failure can be managed through one-on-one patient education focusing on medications, cardiac diet, lifestyle modifications and advanced cardiac planning.
Why Choose Us for Heart Failure Care
- Established, expert care team: Our team of experienced cardiologists, nurse practitioners, a dedicated case manager, and a licensed vocational nurse have worked together to offer exceptional, individualized care since 1997. We currently manage over 3,500 patients living with heart failure, and that number continues to grow.
- Award-winning care: We have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high-performing hospital in heart failure, aortic valve surgery, and heart bypass surgery.
- Same-day clinic appointments: Get seen quickly for urgent or non-emergency health concerns.
- Mental health support: Led by therapists and clinicians, our MEND Outpatient program provides mental and emotional support to patients and families during medical illness or treatment.
Services We Offer
- Heart transplant, a major surgery in which your heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart, typically only performed when other treatments don't work.
- Left ventricular assist device (LVAD), an implant that helps your heart pump blood, used temporarily before a transplant or long-term if you aren't eligible for a transplant.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) clinic, our specialized medical clinic focused on diagnosing and treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that involves the thickening of your heart muscle.
- Cardiac amyloid clinic, our specialized medical clinic focused on diagnosing and treating cardiac amyloidosis, a condition where abnormal protein deposits (called amyloid) build up in your heart tissue.
- Intravenous (IV) diuretic services, which can help manage fluid buildup in your body caused by certain heart problems. Available same day, or next day by appointment.
- CardioMEMS remote monitoring, a system that helps manage heart failure by continuously tracking your pulmonary artery pressure from home.
- Advanced cardiac testing, a variety of diagnostic procedures, including echocardiography, nuclear scans, cardiac CT, cardiac MRI, PET, and cardiopulmonary stress tests.
- Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, a variety of services that can help you recover from heart conditions and surgery.
- Education on medication and cardiac diets, one-on-one guidance that can help you take your medications properly and follow a heart-healthy diet.
- Cardiogenic shock team, our comprehensive group of heart specialists who work together to treat cardiogenic shock, a serious condition where your heart can't pump enough blood to your body.
- Other comprehensive care teams, our experts in electrophysiology, structural heart disease, and mental health, who work with you to identify issues and create a treatment plan.
- Research studies and clinical trials, opportunities for you to explore new treatments and medications, if eligible.
Helpful Links
Our Experts
As a patient, you have full access to our certified heart team, many of whom specialize in different areas of heart care. Our expert team includes:
About Heart Failure
Heart failure afflicts 5.7 million people in the United States. It is one of the most common causes of hospitalization among those aged 65 and older. Also called congestive heart failure (CHF), the condition results when fluid builds up in the body. The heart cannot pump blood as efficiently as it should. The heart is still working, but cannot meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen.
Heart failure symptoms usually develop over time. The heart becomes weaker and less able to ensure the flow of blood that the body needs. CHF will get worse if left untreated. Heart failure usually results in an enlarged heart. The good news is: Making lifestyle changes now can help prevent your developing CHF. Following your cardiologist's advice is important. Healthy changes will help you feel better and potentially avoid developing CHF.
Heart failure is a progressive condition that has four stages: A, B, C and D. They range from “high risk of developing heart failure” to “advanced heart failure.”
Stage A – Considered to be pre-heart failure, Stage A means you may be at risk if you have one or more contributing medical conditions such as:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Metabolic syndrome
- Family history of cardiomyopathy
Treatment includes modifying lifestyle to manage risk factors, as well as medication to control the predisposing medical conditions.
Stage B – Also considered pre-heart failure, people at Stage B have been diagnosed with dysfunction or structural changes in the left ventricular of the heart, but have never had symptoms of heart failure. Treatment includes the interventions in Stage A as well as medications and possibly surgery if there is a risk of coronary artery blockage, a heart attack, valve disease.
Stage C - At Stage C, patients have been diagnosed with heart failure and may be having:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Weakness in the legs and a reduced ability to exercise
- Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema)
These symptoms may improve or worsen from day to day. Treatment may include medications such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, vasodilators and diuretics. Additional monitoring of weight, sodium intake and fluid will also be necessary. Implantable devices such as a pacemaker and cardiac defibrillator may also help manage symptoms.
Stage D – Stage D patients have advanced symptoms and are in the final stage of heart failure. In addition to treatments from Stages A, B and C, patients may need more advanced options such as:
- Heart surgery
- Continuous infusion of intravenous inotropic drugs
- Ventricular assist devices
- Heart transplant
- Palliative or hospice care
People with heart failure may experience the following:
- Swelling in feet, ankles and legs
- Shortness of breath, especially when lying down
- Tired, run-down feeling
- Coughing or wheezing, especially when you exercise or lie down
- Weight gain from fluid buildup
- Confusion or can’t think clearly
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your cardiologist for an appointment.
- Medications - Your cardiology provider may give you medications to strengthen your heart and water pills to help your body get rid of excess fluids
- Diet - You may be advised to follow a low-sodium (salt) diet (2000 mg per day)
- Oxygen support - You may be provided oxygen for use at home
- Intervention - Surgery or cardiac devices may be needed, in some cases
Be sure to follow the medical advice given to you by your cardiologist. Some additional steps you can take to help manage your heart failure include:
- If you smoke, quit
- Be sure to take your medications exactly as prescribed
- Take your blood pressure daily and record the results
- Lose or maintain your weight based on your cardiologist's recommendations; then weigh daily to check for weight gain caused by increased fluid
- Track your daily fluid intake; avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine
- Eat a heart-healthy diet that’s low in sodium, saturated fats and trans fat
- Be physically active
- Get adequate rest