Heart failure care

Trust the cardiologists at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula’s Tyler Heart Institute for compassionate, expert care of heart failure. You’ll partner with specialists who help you manage symptoms and slow the progression of the condition, so you enjoy a longer, better-quality life.

What’s heart failure?

Heart failure is also called congestive heart failure (CHF). Heart failure means your heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to the rest of your body. Over time, the condition can get worse as the heart grows weaker.

Symptoms of heart failure

If you have heart failure, you may experience:

• Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Fluid buildup that can cause ankle swelling
• Weakness

Heart failure causes

Your risk for heart failure is higher if you have:

• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart attack
• Heart muscle disorder that weakens the heart
• Heart valve disease
• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Diagnosing heart failure

If you have heart failure symptoms and risk factors, your doctor may recommend certain tests. In addition to a physical examination, you may have:

• Angiogram
• Chest X-ray
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Stress test

After a heart failure diagnosis, rely on your cardiologist to take the time to:

• Explain the condition and its stage (how severe it is)
• Listen to your concerns
• Answer your questions

CHF treatment

At Tyler Heart Institute, you’ll be the focus of a knowledgeable team with experience helping patients like you successfully manage heart failure and live well.

Your cardiologist will create a personalized treatment plan based on your needs and preferences. To help your heart work better or treat the cause of your heart failure, you may benefit from:

• Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, being more active, or changing your diet so it’s lower in sodium (salt)
• Cardiac rehabilitation, a supervised education and exercise program
• Medications
• Surgery or a minimally invasive procedure, such as coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), heart valve repair or replacement, or placement of a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
• Palliative care to relieve symptoms

Barostim controls your blood pressure

If medicine doesn’t lower your high blood pressure, you may benefit from a new device called Barostim. A vascular surgeon puts this tiny implant into a carotid artery in your neck during an outpatient procedure. The technology stimulates natural sensors in the artery to regulate your body’s blood pressure. It can also reduce your heart’s workload. You might be able to do more physical activity and enjoy a higher quality of life with Barostim. Ask your cardiologist about this treatment option for heart failure. Learn more about vascular surgery.