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High Blood Pressure
Provides links to information about high blood pressure. Describes what blood pressure is, high blood pressure's effect on health, and how high blood pressure is treated. Has links to lifestyle changes and medications used to treat high blood pressure.
Hypertensive Emergency
What is a hypertensive emergency? A hypertensive emergency is very high blood pressure that damages the body. A person's blood pressure may be 180/120 or higher. It can cause damage to the brain, heart, eyes, or kidneys. A hypertensive emergency needs immediate care. What are the symptoms? The symptoms of a hypertensive...
Cirrhosis: Beta-Blockers for Portal Hypertension and Varices
Beta-blocker medicines are used to prevent an episode of variceal bleeding by lowering the pressure in the enlarged veins (varices). Variceal bleeding occurs when the pressure increases in the portal vein system and the veins in the esophagus, stomach, and rectum enlarge to help blood flow through the liver. By slowing...
Cirrhosis: Surgical Shunts for Portal Hypertension
Shunt surgeries are designed to redirect the flow of blood or belly fluid through other areas of the body. Types of shunts used include: Peritoneovenous shunts. These shunts may reduce fluid buildup in the belly ( ascites). They divert the fluid into normal blood circulation. Portacaval shunts. These shunts may lower...
Pulmonary Hypertension Tadalafil Oral Tablet 20 mg (TADALAFIL (LUNGS) - ORAL)
For high blood pressure in the lungs. Brand Name(s): Adcirca, Alyq. Generic Name: Pulmonary Hypertension Tadalafil.
High Blood Pressure in Children and Teens
What is high blood pressure in children and teens? Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of the arteries as it moves through the body. It's normal for your child's blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day. But if it stays up, your child has high blood pressure. Another...
Secondary High Blood Pressure
What is secondary high blood pressure? Secondary high blood pressure is high blood pressure that's caused by another disease or condition. It can also be caused by certain medicines. If your doctor can treat what's causing the high blood pressure, it might lower your blood pressure. The risk of secondary high blood...
Pregnancy and Chronic High Blood Pressure
Some people have high blood pressure before they get pregnant (chronic hypertension). Some have high blood pressure that starts in the second or third trimester (gestational hypertension). High blood pressure can limit the baby's growth and cause other serious problems. Sometimes it's a first sign of a serious problem...
High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Learn about causes and effects of high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Blood Pressure Screening
Your care provider uses a blood pressure monitor to screen for high blood pressure. A blood pressure cuff is wrapped around your bare upper arm. The cuff is then pumped up. The cuff is slowly deflated, and the monitor shows your blood pressure numbers. Either an automatic or manual monitor can be used. After measuring...
Preeclampsia: Checkups and Monitoring
Preeclampsia is usually found during regular prenatal checkups. That's one reason it's important to go to all of your prenatal visits. Tests are done at each visit to check for preeclampsia, including: Blood pressure reading. Blood pressure is always watched closely during pregnancy. Weight measurement. Rapid weight...
Preeclampsia: Expectant Management
Expectant management, or observation, is sometimes used to manage a high-risk pregnancy. You may be advised to have expectant management at home or in the hospital. Where you have it depends on how severe your preeclampsia is. Care at home If you have signs of preeclampsia early in pregnancy, your doctor or...
Eclampsia (Seizures) and Preeclampsia
Eclampsia is pregnancy-related seizure activity that is caused by severe preeclampsia. Less than 1% of women who have preeclampsia experience seizures. Eclampsia is life-threatening for both a mother and her fetus. During a seizure, the oxygen supply to the fetus is drastically reduced. Sudden seizures can occur before...
Preeclampsia
Covers causes and symptoms of preeclampsia. Includes regular checkups with your doctor. Looks at prevention and treatment with close monitoring and possibly blood pressure medicine.
High Blood Pressure
Covers causes and symptoms of high blood pressure. Explains systolic and diastolic pressure numbers. Looks at treatment and prevention steps. Includes risks of untreated high blood pressure such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
DASH Diet Sample Menu
The DASH diet is an eating plan that can help lower your blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy. It also includes fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and seeds. Here is a sample menu for the DASH diet. It is based on a...
High Blood Pressure: Nutrition Tips
The DASH diet The DASH diet is an eating plan that can help lower your blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy. It also includes fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and seeds. Following the DASH diet Eat 4 to 5 servings of...
Isolated Systolic High Blood Pressure
In isolated systolic high blood pressure (isolated systolic hypertension, or ISH), systolic blood pressure is elevated, but diastolic blood pressure is normal. This type of high blood pressure is more common in older adults, especially older women. High blood pressure increases your risk for stroke and heart disease...
Macitentan Oral Tablet (MACITENTAN - ORAL)
For high blood pressure in the lungs. Brand Name(s): Opsumit. Generic Name: Macitentan.
Sildenafil Injection
For high blood pressure in the lungs. Brand Name(s): Revatio. Generic Name: Sildenafil.
Bosentan Oral Tablet (BOSENTAN - ORAL)
For high blood pressure in the lungs. Brand Name(s): Tracleer. Generic Name: Bosentan.
Bosentan Tablet For Oral Suspension (BOSENTAN TABLET - FOR ORAL SUSPENSION)
For high blood pressure in the lungs. Brand Name(s): Tracleer. Generic Name: Bosentan.
Sildenafil Oral Suspension (SILDENAFIL SUSPENSION (LUNGS) - ORAL)
For high blood pressure in the lungs. Brand Name(s): Revatio. Generic Name: Sildenafil.
Sildenafil Oral Tablet 20 mg (SILDENAFIL 20 MG (LUNGS) - ORAL)
For high blood pressure in the lungs. Generic Name: Sildenafil.
High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet
Describes the DASH diet to help lower blood pressure. Offers tips for following DASH guidelines, including how to add more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Outlines how to make DASH a habit by setting goals, getting past barriers, and finding support.
Revatio Oral Tablet 20 mg (SILDENAFIL 20 MG (LUNGS) - ORAL)
For high blood pressure in the lungs.
Venous Skin Ulcer
What is a venous skin ulcer? A skin ulcer is a type of wound that develops on the skin. A venous skin ulcer is a shallow wound that occurs when the leg veins don't return blood back toward the heart the way they should. This is called venous insufficiency. These ulcers usually form on the sides of the lower leg, above...
Venous Skin Ulcers: Home Treatment
Venous skin ulcers develop when the lower leg veins are weakened and cannot efficiently move the blood back toward the heart. Pooled blood and fluid in the lower legs then leads to tissue breakdown. You can prevent or heal a venous skin ulcer by helping your blood circulate back toward your heart. Elevate your legs...
Pulmonary Embolism
Discusses primary cause (blood clot in the lungs) and symptoms of pulmonary embolism. Looks at treatment with thrombolytic medicines, blood thinners (anticoagulants), or surgery. Links to info on complications like pulmonary hypertension.
Heart Failure
Describes heart failure (congestive heart failure). Discusses common causes like hypertension and coronary artery disease. Has info on symptoms. Covers diagnostic tests and treatments. Discusses heart failure classification system and stages of CHF.
Increased Intracranial Pressure
Learn basic information about increased intracranial pressure, including the symptoms, diagnosis, causes, and treatment.
Brain Aneurysm
Briefly discusses brain aneurysm (also called cerebral aneurysm). Covers possible causes, including hardening of the arteries, hypertension, and smoking. Lists symptoms. Discusses treatment with surgery. Links to info on strokes.
Obesity
Covers the basics of obesity. Discusses health risks such as hypertension related to having excess body fat. Focuses on lifestyle changes you can make, like healthy eating and exercise. Includes information on weight-loss medicines and surgery and on creating a long-term plan with your doctor.
Coronary Artery Disease
Includes causes and symptoms of heart disease. Looks at cholesterol, hypertension, and risk of heart attack. Covers diet, physical activity, and treatment with medicines, angioplasty, and bypass surgery. Includes how to help prevent heart disease.
Classification of Heart Failure
The New York Heart Association has classified heart failure by how bad symptoms are when you are active. The four classes range from having few or no symptoms when active to having symptoms even when at rest. Class I. People whose physical activity is not limited. Ordinary physical activity does not cause tiredness...
Heart Failure Types
Heart failure means that your heart muscle does not pump as much blood as your body needs. Failure doesn't mean that your heart has stopped. It means that your heart is not pumping as well as it should. There is more than one type of heart failure, so you might hear your doctor call it different names. The types are...
Heart Failure Stages
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have devised a classification system for heart failure. It categorizes heart failure based on how the disease progresses in most people. Under this system, heart failure is classified by stages A through D. Stages of heart failure Stage Definition...
Obesity and Pregnancy
Reviews obesity and healthy pregnancy.
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
TIPS is a procedure in which a stent is placed to join two veins in a damaged liver. One vein carries blood to the liver (portal vein). The other vein goes from the liver to the heart (hepatic vein). TIPS forms a channel that allows some of the blood to bypass the liver.
Home Blood Pressure Test
Using a home blood pressure monitor lets you keep track of your blood pressure at home. Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body. Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers. The first number shows how hard the blood pushes when the...
Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Your doctor might ask you to use an ambulatory blood pressure monitor after measuring your blood pressure in the doctor's office, to make sure that you actually have high blood pressure. This is because your blood pressure can change during the day. And sometimes blood pressure is higher only because you are seeing a...
Preeclampsia: Creatinine Clearance Test
When muscles use energy, they release a waste product called creatinine into the blood. The kidneys then filter creatinine from the blood. From the kidneys, creatinine passes out of the body through the urinary tract. If the kidneys are not functioning normally, high amounts of creatinine remain in the blood while low...
High-Risk Pregnancy
What is a high-risk pregnancy? Your pregnancy is called high-risk if you or your baby has an increased chance of having a health problem. These problems include slowed growth of the baby, preterm labor, preeclampsia, and a problem with the placenta. Many things can make a pregnancy high-risk, from a current condition...
High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home
Explains why you should monitor your blood pressure at home and how to choose a home blood pressure monitor. Includes steps on how to take your blood pressure at home. Covers why and how to keep a blood pressure diary.
High Blood Pressure: Should I Take Medicine?
Guides you through the decision to take or not take medicine to treat high blood pressure. Explains what high blood pressure is and risks of not lowering it. Covers treatment choices and lifestyle changes.
Pregnancy-Related Problems
Briefly discusses symptoms that may show a serious problem during pregnancy. Covers vaginal bleeding, fever, and swelling. Describes emergency symptoms like shock, seizures, and leaks from your vagina. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.
HELLP Syndrome
What is HELLP syndrome? HELLP syndrome is a serious liver disorder that can develop during pregnancy. HELLP stands for H emolysis (destruction of red blood cells), E levated L iver enzymes, and L ow P latelet count. HELLP is usually related to preeclampsia. In most cases it happens in the third trimester, but it can...
High Blood Pressure: Over-the-Counter Medicines to Avoid
Some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can raise your blood pressure or keep your blood pressure medicine from working the way it should. So if you have high blood pressure or other heart or blood vessel problems, you need to be careful with OTC medicines. That includes vitamins and supplements. Your doctor or pharmacist...
Home Blood Pressure Log
Name: ________________________ Target blood pressure: __________ Date Time (a.m.) Blood pressure Time (p.m.) Blood pressure Comments Sample: 8/6 8:15 138/87 6:20 142/92 Stressful day at work
High Blood Pressure: Taking Medicines Properly
Covers things you can do to make it easier to take your high blood pressure medicine. Includes working with your doctor to find the right meds, getting organized to stay on schedule, and learning about side effects and what to do if you miss a dose.
Sodium Record
Use a form to record the sodium content of the foods you eat or drink each day. This record will help you see whether you are getting the prescribed daily amount of sodium in your diet. Make a chart with 3 columns and as many rows you need for meals and snacks. In the first column, record your meals. In the second...
Using a Home Test Kit for Protein in Urine
Your doctor may have you check the amount of protein in your urine at home. Increased protein might be a sign that your kidneys are being damaged. You can buy a simple test kit with urine testing strips at most pharmacies and drugstores. To test your urine each day, dip a urine testing strip into a fresh sample of your...
Izzy's Story: Living With the DASH Diet
Izzy's story: Living with the DASH diet "I'm a believer!" That's the proclamation from Izzy, a 60-year-old clerk from Petaluma, Calif. She's talking about a way of eating that helped her lose weight and brought her blood pressure way down. "If there were a commercial for the DASH diet, I'd volunteer to be a...
Cirrhosis Complications: Variceal Bleeding
Variceal bleeding happens when large veins, often in the esophagus, get swollen and break open. It's caused by a condition called portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is high pressure in the veins that filter blood from the intestines through the liver (portal system of the liver). The pressure increases in the...
Tyrell's Story: Taking Pills for High Blood Pressure
When Tyrell's doctor told him he had high blood pressure, he was shocked. "I thought, 'Hey, I'm a physical fitness trainer. I'm in great shape. How could I have high blood pressure?' " He knew that both of his parents have high blood pressure. And one of his uncles recently had a stroke. But Tyrell had always been kind...
Arturo's Story: Getting Support for Making a Change
The neighbors can set their clocks by Arturo and his wife, Rosa. Every morning at 6:30 a.m. and every evening at 6:30 p.m., they walk out their front door for their 30-minute walk. "It's kind of a neighborhood joke," Arturo, 58, says. "People literally look at their watch and laugh when we go by." But the walks...
Cirrhosis: Vasoconstrictor Medicines for Variceal Bleeding
Vasoconstrictor medicines are used to treat sudden (acute) bleeding from enlarged veins (varices). They make small blood vessels constrict, which reduces blood flow to veins that carry blood to the liver (portal veins). These medicines also may be used along with endoscopic treatment. What are the side effects? Side...
Placental Abruption
What is placental abruption? Placental abruption is a pregnancy problem in which the placenta separates too early from the wall of the uterus. The placenta is a round, flat organ that forms during pregnancy. It gives the baby food and oxygen from your body. In a normal pregnancy, the placenta stays firmly attached to...
Bed Rest for Preterm Labor
Expectant management is the close monitoring of a pregnancy for complications. It may involve some bed rest at home or in the hospital. Being on expectant management may mean you are advised to stop working, reduce your activity level, or possibly spend a lot of time resting (partial bed rest). There is no evidence that...
Preterm Labor and Short Cervix
During pregnancy, the cervix is a closed and sealed tunnel between the uterus and the vagina. Before or during labor and delivery, the cervix stretches and flattens ( effacement). At 24 weeks of pregnancy, the average cervix is about 35 mm (1.4 in.) long. A short cervix has a length of less than 25 mm (1 in.). Women...
Cardiopulmonary Syndromes (PDQ®): Supportive care - Patient Information [NCI]
Cardiopulmonary syndromes are conditions of the heart and lung that may be caused by cancer or by other health problems. Five cardiopulmonary syndromes that may be caused by cancer are covered in this summary: Dyspnea (shortness of breath). Chronic cough. Malignant pleural effusion (extra fluid around the lungs caused...
Blood Pressure Numbers: When to Get Help
What do your blood pressure numbers mean? Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure readings include two numbers. The first number is the systolic pressure (top number). This is the force of blood on the artery walls as your heart pumps. The second number is the...
Placenta Previa
What is placenta previa? Placenta previa is a pregnancy problem in which the placenta blocks the cervix. The placenta is a round, flat organ that forms on the inside wall of the uterus soon after conception. During pregnancy, it gives the baby food and oxygen. In a normal pregnancy, the placenta is attached high up in...
Preterm Labor
What is preterm labor? Preterm labor is labor that comes too early—between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. In labor, the uterus contracts to open the cervix. This is the first stage of childbirth. In most pregnancies, this happens at 37 to 42 weeks. Preterm labor is also called premature labor. Preterm labor doesn't...
Bed Rest in Pregnancy
What is bed rest? Bed rest is limiting physical activity during your pregnancy. It can last a few weeks or even months. It may be at home or in the hospital. Your doctor may put you on partial bed rest or full bed rest. Partial bed rest usually means it's usually okay to sit, stand, or walk around for short periods of...
Heart-Healthy Eating
Heart-healthy eating means eating food that can help lower your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. It focuses on eating more healthy foods and cutting back on foods that aren't so good for you. It is part of a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes regular activity and not smoking. A heart-healthy eating...
Beta-Blockers
Make sure you know about each of the medicines you take. This includes why you take it, how to take it, what you can expect while you're taking it, and any warnings about the medicine. The information provided here is general. So be sure to read the information that came with your medicine. If you have any questions or...
Lung Transplant
Learn basic information about lung transplants, including why they are done, what to expect after the surgery, how well a transplant works, and what the risks are.
Heart Failure: Disease Management Programs
Many hospitals and insurers have developed disease management (DM) programs to educate people who have heart failure about their disease. Disease management includes a broad range of health services, such as home health care, visiting nurses, and rehabilitation. The goal of DM programs is to offer a combination of...
Heart Failure: Symptom Record
Use this form to describe the severity of your heart failure symptoms and whether they get worse. Also, record any new symptoms that develop. Take this form with you when you visit your doctor. Symptoms Describe severity of symptoms and when they started Shortness of breath Swelling in your legs or ankles Sudden weight...
Heart Failure: Compensation by the Heart and Body
Heart failure means that your heart muscle doesn't pump as much blood as your body needs. Because your heart can't pump well, your heart and your body try to make up for it. This is called compensation. Your body has a remarkable ability to compensate for heart failure. The body may do such a good job that many people...
Heart Failure Daily Action Plan
A heart failure action plan gives you an easy way to check your symptoms and see changes. The plan also tells you when you need to get help. Your doctor may give you a plan, or you might create one together. You'll use your plan every day. It takes the guesswork out of knowing when symptoms mean you should call your...
Heart Failure: Checking Your Weight
Discusses importance of tracking weight for those with heart failure. Covers how to check your weight when you have heart failure.
Heart Failure Symptoms
If you have heart failure, symptoms start to happen when your heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body. Shortness of breath While shortness of breath is the most common symptom of heart failure, it may be difficult or impossible to distinguish it from shortness of breath caused by other health problems...
Heart Failure Complications
Even if you are treating your heart failure successfully, you may develop a complication that can be serious and life-threatening. It is important to identify complications of heart failure as soon as possible, because some can be extremely serious conditions. You can discuss your complications with your doctor and...
Enjoying Life When You Have Heart Failure
People who have heart failure can be active and enjoy life. Daily activities. If you have heart failure, you may find that your symptoms make it difficult to do things like cook, clean, bathe, or shop. You can deal with these limitations in various ways. For example, you can rearrange your kitchen to make cooking easier...
Cardiac Cachexia
Cardiac cachexia is unintentional severe weight loss caused by severe heart failure. The weight loss might be life-threatening. Even with a very good appetite and high calorie intake, some people lose muscle mass. Cardiac cachexia can require supplemental nutrition. How it happens Heart failure may cause blood to back...
Heart Failure: Avoiding Triggers for Sudden Heart Failure
Lists triggers that lead to congestive heart failure: too much salt, too much exercise, and taking medicines wrong. Encourages staying with diet, medicine, and exercise plan.
Heart Failure: Activity and Exercise
Covers how exercise can improve health when you have heart failure. Explains importance of working with your doctor to create a plan for safe exercise. Includes tips for staying safe during activity, staying motivated, and getting support for being active.
Heart Failure and Sexual Activity
Sex is part of a healthy life and is part of your quality of life. Most people with heart failure can still have an active sex life. You can ask your doctor to help you know if or when it's okay for you to have sex. If you or your partner is worried about having sex, talk with your doctor about your concerns. Your...
Heart Failure: Avoiding Medicines That Make Symptoms Worse
Some medicines can affect your heart and make your heart failure worse. Others may keep your heart failure medicines from working right. So it's important to be careful with medicines. These include NSAID pain relievers and medicines that speed up the heart rate. Over-the-counter medicines that you may need to avoid...
Heart Failure: Track Your Weight, Food, and Sodium
Use this form to record the sodium content of the foods you eat or drink each day. This record will help you see whether you are getting too much sodium in your diet. Use the Nutrition Facts on food labels to help find how much sodium you eat. You can tell when your body retains fluid by weighing yourself often. Sodium...
Heart Failure: Watching Your Fluids
Discusses need to watch fluid intake with heart failure. Gives tips for keeping track of fluid intake, spreading fluids throughout the day, and managing thirst.
Heart Failure: Tips for Easier Breathing
If you have heart failure, the following tips may help you deal with fluid buildup that makes it hard to breathe. Call your doctor if you have new symptoms or if your symptoms have become worse. Elevate your upper body. Sit in a chair or prop yourself up with pillows. At night, sleep with one or two pillows under your...
Heart Failure: Taking Medicines Properly
Explains how to take medicine for congestive heart failure. Suggests schedules, lists, and pill containers to remember when to take medicines. Covers need-to-know names of medicines and side effects. Also how to handle missed doses, need to avoid certain medicines.
Heart Failure: Avoiding Colds and Flu
If you have heart failure, it is important that you do as much as possible to avoid catching colds, the flu, and other respiratory infections. Although these may be relatively minor illnesses in healthy people, they are more dangerous if you have heart failure, and you are at higher risk for dangerous complications...
Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for Heart Failure
A ventricular assist device (VAD) helps pump blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It's used when your heart is not able to pump enough blood on its own. The device consists of a pump, tubes that connect the pump to the heart, a control system, and a power source. A thin cable connects the pump with the...
Heart Failure: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?
Guides you through decision to get an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Gives information about ICDs and asks questions to help you learn if an ICD is right for you. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you decide.
Heart Failure: Less Common Symptoms
While there are certain symptoms that people with heart failure experience more commonly, there are many other symptoms that heart failure can cause. These symptoms are typically less common because they often result from more severe heart failure, when the body can no longer compensate properly for the failing heart...
Heart Failure: Eating a Healthy Diet
Why is diet important for heart failure? Diet is critical in the treatment of heart failure. Limiting sodium is typically recommended to limit fluid build-up. But some other nutrients or substances also play a role as well. Heart failure can become more severe if diet and medicine recommendations for heart failure are...
Gestational Diabetes
Discusses gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy). Discusses symptoms and how it's diagnosed. Covers treatment with healthy food choices, exercise, medicine and insulin to control blood sugar levels.
Pregnancy After Age 35
Most pregnancies after age 35 are healthy ones. But as you age beyond your mid-30s, some risks do increase. Your doctor will check you often to catch most problems early. The main age-related risks are: Miscarriage. Preeclampsia. Gestational diabetes. Certain chromosome problems, including Down syndrome. The risk of...
Heart Failure: Should I Get a Pacemaker (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy)?
Guides through decision to get a pacemaker for heart failure. Answers common questions about pacemakers, such as how they work and are placed. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.
Chronic Illness: Help for Caregivers
Helping or caring for a loved one with a long-term (chronic) condition, such as COPD or heart failure, can feel like a lot to take on. Sometimes it can be hard for people to accept help. Or they may choose not to accept help. So you may have to adjust the way you think, ask, listen, and respond. These tips might help...
Biventricular Pacemaker
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) uses a special type of pacemaker called a biventricular pacemaker (say "by-ven-TRICK-yuh-ler") to treat heart failure. This pacemaker sends electrical pulses to make the ventricles pump at the same time. A biventricular pacemaker is implanted in the chest, and it connects to three...
Heart Transplant
A heart transplant is a procedure in which a surgeon removes a diseased heart and replaces it with a donor heart. During a heart transplant, a mechanical pump circulates blood through the body while the surgeon removes the diseased heart and replaces it with a healthy heart from a recently deceased donor. The surgeon...
Heart Failure: Tips for Caregivers
Talk with doctors, therapists, and counselors about how to help a friend or relative living with heart failure. Most people don't hesitate when they are called upon to help a loved one who is ill. But being a full-time caregiver may be an unfamiliar role for you. It is important to consider the long-term implications of...
Oxygen Therapy: Using Oxygen at Home
Oxygen therapy helps you get more oxygen into your lungs and bloodstream. You may use it if you have a disease that makes it hard to breathe, such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs), or heart failure. Oxygen therapy can make it easier for you to breathe and can reduce your heart's workload. Some people...
Conserving Your Energy
Learn how to conserve your energy when doing daily activities.
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a mechanical device that helps the heart pump blood. It is a long, thin tube called a catheter with a balloon on the end. The balloon inflates and deflates in the same rhythm as the heart. It helps the heart pump blood to the body. An IABP is usually for emergencies only. For...