Our team of board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists and advanced practice providers at the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program<\/a> has the experience and expertise to diagnose the progress of your heart failure and provide treatments including lifestyle guidance, medication, mechanical circulation devices and evaluation for heart transplants. Our program is a member of the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network. That means that when a heart transplant is needed, our providers work closely with UK HealthCare heart transplant providers to walk each patient through evaluation, testing and the organ transplantation process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeart failure\u201d makes it sound like the heart has stopped working completely, but that\u2019s not really what\u2019s happening. Heart failure means your heart beats, but it cannot pump blood as well at it should. This results in fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms. Heart failure is a condition with no cure, but it can be managed with drugs and other treatments. Many people are living with heart failure<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heart failure can get worse over time, especially if it is not treated properly. Advanced heart failure means the most severe version of the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acute heart failure means symptoms get worse or develop suddenly. Initially, symptoms are severe. Acute heart failure may follow a heart attack if there has been damage to an area of your heart. It also may be caused by the body suddenly being unable to compensate for chronic heart failure. Sometimes, acute heart failure is severe initially but may last a short time; it does, however, require medical intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doctors use classifications of heart failure to understand how to best treat you. These classifications are based on how severe your symptoms are and how much you are limited by them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When something is decompensated in the body, it means there has been a breakdown of a structure (such as an organ or muscle) or system that had been working before. The heart no longer can make up for the failure caused by the breakdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the structure or system is able to continue working, even with the breakdown, it is called compensated heart failure. There are often no symptoms in compensated heart failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program helps patients protect and recover heart function using leading-edge technology and medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many people, heart failure treatment<\/a> requires a balance of the right medications, a low-sodium diet and fluid restrictions that can help ease symptoms. Medication can be protective, which means it may help stop further damage to the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some heart failure medications<\/a> may include neurohormonal blockade<\/a>, or other medicines such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your doctor also may want to give your body a chance to recover itself and to prevent further damage. The Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program uses active monitoring<\/a> to see any changes in your heart rate, blood pressure and other symptoms. An example of active monitoring is the CardioMEMS HF System.<\/strong> This permanently implanted device transmits data from your heart when you lie on a special pillow daily. If the readings are outside of set parameters, it alerts the team so they can reach out to make changes as needed before you ever feel symptoms. Everyone\u2019s heart failure looks different \u2014 from symptoms and severity to progression and recovery. The team at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers high-quality care from board-certified physicians with expertise and training in heart failure recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers advanced care at all of our adult-service hospitals to save hearts and lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers patient resources<\/a> to support you and your family, including free classes for people of all ages who want to improve cardiovascular health or are living with a heart condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAcute Heart Failure Vs. Advanced Heart Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stages of Heart Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Decompensated Heart Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Treatment for Heart Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Norton Heart & Vascular Institute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Awards and Accreditations<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Leading the Region in Advanced Care<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Comprehensive Heart Care for the Whole Person<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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