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Although its name suggests otherwise, heart failure isn’t a condition where the heart has truly failed; rather, the heart has trouble keeping up with the body’s needs. This can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the legs, and fluid buildup.
Heart failure is one of the leading causes of death among American adults, but the good news is that a diagnosis is no longer dire. Research has led to new insight in lifestyle changes, medications, and medical devices to offer hope for the more than 6 million adults in the US living with the condition.
One of the easiest ways patients in the early stages of heart failure can improve their future trajectory is through lifestyle changes. Dr. Siu-Hin Wan, Director of Heart Failure at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute at United Hospital in St. Paul, advises starting with a healthy diet, prioritizing physical activity, and treating underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
If lifestyle changes alone aren’t ample treatment, medications can also help improve patient outcomes. Whereas diagnosed patients were once cared for with a universal pharmaceutical approach, new areas of study are helping researchers understand the biological changes behind heart failure. This insight can help connect underlying pathophysiology with targeted medications to most effectively delay disease progression.
Another area of treatment advancement includes medical devices. Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators prevent sudden cardiac deaths and have paved the way for cardiac resynchronization devices that help hearts beat more efficiently. Other device advancements are making surgical procedures for the heart less invasive and accessible to more patients. Transcatheter valve repair (MitraClip and TriClip) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are examples of newer options for high-risk surgical patients.
Even in cases of advanced heart failure, research is raising new options. Heart pump technology is improving and enabling people to delay the need for a heart replacement. And transplant technology itself is advancing too.
If you or someone you care about is facing a heart failure diagnosis, you are not alone. The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and our physician partners at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute are at the forefront of research and can connect you with resources. For example, Dr. Siu-Hin Wan delivered Heart and Hope: Thriving with Heart Failure, an On the Pulse webinar designed to educate patients about living well.
The message is clear: heart failure patients have more options than ever to take control of their condition. From lifestyle changes to transplant technology, abundant tools are allowing these individuals to live fulfilling lives. And this important work won’t stop there. Learn more about exciting research happening at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, and learn more about our specialty focus area on heart failure and transplant. Participating in a study often begins by simply asking your doctor if research is an option for your care.
