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What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. With heart failure, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming more stiff and thickened. This helps to keep the blood moving for a short while, but in time, the heart muscle walls weaken and are unable to pump as strongly. As a result, the kidneys often respond by causing the body to retain fluid (water) and sodium. If fluid builds up in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive heart failure is the term used to describe the condition.
Our heart failure service works closely with the electrophysiology team in monitoring and referring patients for more advanced biventricular pacemaker-defibrillators. Cardiology Associates is also the only cardiology practice in Southeastern Connecticut with a heart failure clinic which monitors the specialized care of patients with congestive heart failure.
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Cardiology Associates
of Norwich, LLC
79 Wawecus Street
Suite 106
Norwich, CT 06360
Phone:: 860•886•2679
Fax:: 860•889•2862 |
