Heart Failure Program

Heart Failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood through the body. Symptoms typically increase as your heart becomes weaker. Signs of heart failure include:

• Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet due to excess fluid
• Weight gain, stomach bloating, and decreased appetite due to excess fluid
• Increased shortness of breath due to excess fluid
• Coughing due to excess fluid
• Unable to lie flat due to excess fluid
• Waking up short of breath due to excess fluid
• Fatigue due to reduced blood supply to the organs and muscles
• Poor exercise tolerance
• Dizziness or "blackouts"

To determine whether you have heart failure below are commonly diagnostic tests your healthcare team may order:

• Laboratory blood work: To check drug levels, chemistry, blood counts, etc.
• Prothrombin Time (INR): To monitor blood thinning from warfarin (Coumadin)
• Chest X-ray: To evaluate fluid in the lungs
• Echocardiogram: To evaluate how well the heart pumps and valves function
• Exercise Stress Testing: To evaluate coronary artery blockages
• Cardiopulmonary Stress Testing (VO2): To evaluate exercise tolerance and effectiveness of medicines

Because heart failure is caused by damage to the heart over time, it cannot be cured. However, the symptoms of heart failure can be treated to improve your quality of life and survival.

• Lifestyle changes and extensive education
• Medicine
• Device therapy (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICDs))
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Stent procedure
• Open heart surgery
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Clinical trials

We provide a variety of resources, classes, and events to support your heart health journey.

• Heart Failure Toolkit (PDF)
• Heart Strong exercise program

• Cardiac rehabilitation: A medically supervised exercise and education program that helps you safely condition your heart

• Clinical Trials: Our Heart and Vascular Center actively participates in clinical trial research. To learn more about a clinical trial related to your medical condition, call us at 215.345.2328.

Heart failure is a lifelong condition. Your Doylestown Health physicians and care team help you manage symptoms, offering follow-up care and education, medication monitoring and device-related care.

For more information, contact our Heart Failure Coordinator at 215.345.2917.