When the heart’s pumping ability is no longer able to effectively keep up with the body’s need for blood and oxygen. This leads to a back up of blood within the heart and lungs, causing the fluid to leak into the lungs and other tissues. Lack of oxygenated blood throughout the body can lead to multisystem organ damage if left untreated.

Heart failure can be divided into two main types based on the hearts ejection fraction, or how much blood the heart pumps forward with one heart beat. Cardiac ejection fractions is normally 55-60%

• Systolic / Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection fraction (HFrEF)

  • When the heart pumping function becomes weak and can not effectively keep up with the body’s blood / oxygen demands

• Diastolic / Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

  • When the heart pumping function remains normal but the heart muscle is less compliant than normal and can not keep up with the body’s blood / oxygen demands

• Shortness of breath

• Swelling in the extremities and abdomen

• Rapid weight gain

• Fatigue

• Inability to lay flat

• Chest pain

• Cough

• And more

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure

• Coronary artery disease / ischemic heart disease

• Genetics

• Heart valve disease

• Viruses

• Stress

• Alcohol and Drugs

• Electrical abnormalities within the heart

• Chemotherapy

• And many more

Treatment options vary based on the underlying cause of heart failure. Most common treatment options are listed below

• Oral medications

• Intravenous medications

• Dietary / lifestyle modifications

• Implantable devices like defibrillators and / or cardiac resynchronization therapy

• CARDIOMEMS Implantation : A small device used to monitor heart failure status and slow progression

• Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM)

At West Michigan Cardiology we also work closely with Advanced Heart Failure groups in the West Michigan area who offer advanced therapies like ventricular assist devices and heart transplant