Echocardiogram & Ejection Fraction Heart failure is often diagnosed using an echocardiogram (or echo). An echo is an ultrasound of the heart that shows how well the four chambers are working. One of the important numbers to determine the function of the heart is called an ejection fraction (or EF%). EF is a calculation of […]
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VAD Benefits A CF VAD may be used to help a heart pump for many reasons. Depending on your situation, your VAD may be usedas:• Bridge to transplant: To support the heart until a heart transplant can happen.• Destination therapy: To support the heart for the rest of someone’s life if transplantation is not the
The HeartMate II ™ and HeartMate 3™ VADs pump blood by spinning and propelling blood forward. They pull blood out of the heart and push it back out to the body. The blood does not leave the body. There is an electrical cord that comes out of the skin and gives the pump power and
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Heartmate 3 Overview Surgery The HeartMate II ™ and HeartMate 3™ VADs pump blood by spinning and propelling blood forward. They pull blood out of the heart and push it back out to the body. The blood does not leave the body. There is an electrical cord that comes out of the skin and gives
Myocarditis is when the wall of the heart muscle becomes inflamed and white blood cells to attack the normal heart medicine. This can keep your heart from working as it should. Myocarditis has many causes: Viruses: Some of these viruses include common colds including Influenzae or Coronavirus. Bacteria: Some of these infections include “staph infections,”
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of diseases that makes muscles become weak over time. If you have MD, it’s likely that you’ll have problems with your heart at some point in your life. In the same way that MD weakens muscles in your body, it can also weaken your heart and lead to cardiomyopathy.
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Cardiac toxicity, or cardiotoxicity, is when your damage is harmed but chemicals like chemotherapy. When you receive chemotherapy, you are given toxins to kill cancer cells in your body. Sometimes those drugs also hurt the normal cells in and around your heart.
Fontan FailureSome people are born with a congenital heart defect that has only one ventricle (or pump) instead of two. You may also hear it called a “single ventricle heart.” When there is only one ventricle pumping blood, the blood that is oxygen-rich mixes with the blood that is oxygen-poor. This can make you have
ACE Inhibitors and ARBs Angiotensin is a chemical your body produces that makes your arteries narrow. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) help keep your blood vessels open wide so blood can pump to the rest of your body easily. Common ACE inhibitors include enalapril, captopril, or lisinopril. Common ARBs include losartan
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Beta Blocker Beta blockers lower your blood pressure by slowing down how fast your heart beats. They are used to help your heart heal or remodel. Carvedilol (Coreg) and metoprolol (Lopressor) are two beta blockers that your doctor might prescribe to keep your blood pressure in goal range. Common side effects: Dizziness Tiredness, decreased energy
