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Heart failure tests Heart failure treatments & procedures Heart failure clinics Heart failure resources

Heart Failure

Heart failure often develops slowly over time. It is a condition in which the heart does not pump as strongly as it should.

location

There can be several causes of heart failure. Causes may include: infection, heart artery blockages, previous heart attack, heart valve disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, alcohol or drug use.

Booklet: Living With Heart Failure (Heart and Stroke Foundation

Heart failure tests

There are many tests that may be used to help diagnose and monitor heart failure. What tests you need will be determined in discussion with your health-care provider and based on your specific health condition.

Common tests you may have:

Heart failure treatments & procedures

There are many treatments and procedures that may be used to treat and manage heart conditions. What treatments or procedures you need will be determined in discussion with your health care provider and based on your specific health condition. Some common treatments and procedures that you may have are listed below. 

Self-care & management

There are important things that you can do to help take care of yourself and manage heart failure. Things such as watching how much salt you eat or fluids your drink, weighing yourself and monitoring for any heart failure symptoms daily can help you to feel better and in control of your condition.

Resources:

Heart failure medications

There are many medications that may be prescribed to help you manage heart failure. These medications may slow the progress of your heart failure, reduce your heart failure symptoms and improve the quality of your life.

Taking your medications is an important part of your heart failure care. Speak with your health-care provider or pharmacist before changing or stopping any medications.

Implanted heart device

A heart device is a small electronic device that may be used to help the heart pump, to check your heart rate or to treat serious heart rhythms that may make your feel unwell.

  • Pacemaker
  • Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

Learn more about these implanted heart devices

Heart failure clinics

There are many clinics that you might go to for assessment and monitoring of heart conditions. Discussion with your health care provider will help determine which clinics you may need based on your specific health condition.  

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