Heart failure
Heart failure is an indication that the heart is no longer working at its full potential. The heart is unable to pump blood as well as normal, which prevents the heart from receiving all the blood and oxygen it requires. Lifestyle changes and medication are popular treatment plans to combat heart failure.
Heart failure programs and clinic in Nashville
Heart failure is a condition where the body can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
It sounds alarming, but heart failure is preventable, manageable and treatable with the right level of care and support. Whatever your needs, our heart failure specialists are here to help. We provide care for all stages of heart failure, including access to education, emergency services, heart failure surgery, and clinical trials. Our network also includes the Advanced Heart Failure Clinic at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, with highly specialized care for those with the most severe stage of heart failure.
Symptoms of congestive heart failure
Heart failure worsens over time and is typically caused by persistent high blood pressure, heart attack, valve disease and other forms of heart disease or birth abnormalities. If left untreated, the lack of adequate blood flow can cause organ failure, so it is important to act if you experience any of the following:
- Coughing and wheezing
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath, especially when lying down
- Swelling in the feet, ankles and legs
- Weight gain from fluid buildup
Specialty heart failure treatments
From implantable devices to medications to palliative care, we are prepared to treat your congestive heart failure at any stage of life.
Pulmonary artery pressure monitoring
Consisting of a small sensor the size of a paper clip, the top-of-the-line pressure-sensing system we use is implanted directly into your pulmonary artery to offer real-time measurements of blood flow pressure and heart rate, early indicators of worsening heart failure. Access to this data allows for a heightened awareness of factors affecting your health, as well as ample time to address them with measures such as medication. Weight and blood pressure analysis traditionally leave too little time to respond before hospitalization becomes necessary, so this type of monitoring system can be extremely beneficial.
Cardiac therapy
Patients can also enroll in cardiac rehabilitation to help with heart failure management. Cardiac rehabilitation is a supervised exercise program that can help stabilize, slow or even reverse the progression of heart failure, particularly after heart surgery such as stenting. Our program is broken down into three phases, with each designed to help you in various stages of recovery: inpatient, outpatient and home health.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ECMO
Inotropes
Left atrial appendage closure implant (LAAC)
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR)
Palliative care and hospice
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.