Heart Failure

Heart failure is serious, but not fatal. The heart has not stopped, but is unable to pump blood properly because it cannot fill with enough blood or pump with enough force, or both.

Heart failure develops over time as the pumping action of the heart grows weaker. It can affect the left side, the right side, or both sides of the heart.

"Early control of high blood pressure may drastically reduce the number of individuals who die each year from hypertension-related illnesses, according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VII)."

"Government recommendations urge consumers to limit daily trans fat intake to no more than 1% of total calories. That comes to 2 grams per day for the average recommended 2,000-calorie daily diet... a KFC meal including three pieces of extra-crispy chicken contains 15 grams of trans fat, while a single pot pie contains 14 grams, charged the Center for Science in the Public Interest."

Doctors at the MUHC have announced Quebec's first successful combined heart/liver transplant. Patrice Dionne, age 54 years, was transferred from the Institut de cardiologie de Quebec (l'hôpital Laval) to the MUHC. The patient received his new heart and liver during a 6-hour operation on April 14, 2006 and was discharged 10 days later. The MUHC conducts the most organ transplants in Quebec and has the most comprehensive multi-organ transplant program in the province.

According to an article by HeartCenterOnline, "Being overweight and obese has long been associated with an increased risk of heart disease. " Being overweight as a teen leads to an increased risk of disease later in life.

Of the 21 million Americans who have diabetes, The National Institute of Health has estimated that one third don't know it. In addition, half of all Americans will develop a condition known as insulin resistance, a type of "pre-diabetes" (fasting blood glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL) that puts them at high risk of heart attacks.

Everyone pays an $88.50 premium per month for Medicare Part B. In 2007, it is expected to rise to $99.50, and a new provision inserted as part of the prescription drug bill will start. This will be a surcharge to make up for budget deficits and the growing cost of health care.

Although job-related stress has been linked with heart disease for a long time, the exact nature of this link was never clear. A recent study provides new evidence that strengthens this intuitive yet

Heart failure: why it happens, how to recognize it, and what can be done.

When the heart doesn't function as it should, often there's swelling in the legs and ankles, but it can happen in other parts of the body, too. Sometimes fluid collects in the lungs and interferes with breathing, causing shortness of breath, especially when a person is lying down. The kidneys can also be effected.