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If lifestyle changes or medications are not effective in controlling your heart failure,
surgery may be necessary.
Nearly 50-percent of people with heart failure have defects in their heart’s ability to
maintain a normal rhythm of beats. Two devices are used to help the heart maintain a normal
rhythm. * An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
or I-C-D is a device that monitors heart rhythm. If your heart develops an abnormal rhythm
or stops beating, the ICD kicks in to help return it to a normal rhythm.
* A pacemaker can help coordinate the pumping of your heart by sending a small electrical
signal to the heart muscle and is often used along with an ICD.
Surgery can both prevent further damage to the heart and improve its function.
* If you have a narrow or blocked artery, a doctor may perform angioplasty to open the
artery and improve blood flow to the heart. * If you have a blockage that cannot be treated
with angioplasty, your doctor may recommend coronary bypass surgery, which reroutes blood
around the clogged artery. * If a defective valve is the cause of your
heart failure, your doctor may be able to repair it or replace it.
For more advanced heart failure, your doctor may use a device to help your heart perform
its daily work. * Doctors may implant a pump called a left
ventricular assist device or L-V-A-D in the abdomen or chest and connect it to the heart.
This device may be used in people who are waiting for a heart transplant or for those
who are not eligible for a transplant. * An intra-aortic balloon pump, or I-A-B-P,
is a device that is implanted and helps reduce the hearts demand for oxygen while increasing
the amount of blood it pumps to the rest of the body.
[1]These devices are reserved for severe heart failure. If the heart fails beyond repair
or a patient becomes dependent on devices for support, their doctor may consider a heart
transplant.
Today, according to the American Heart Association, there are more than 6 million Americans who
are living with heart failure, and hundreds of thousands new patients are diagnosed each
year.
It’s never too late to take control of your condition. Even a small change in your daily
habits can make a big difference. Work with your doctor, and seek support – from family
or a even good friend – and you can manage the condition as a team. Thanks for being
a part of HealthiNation. Be sure to watch other segments and get talking about your
health. [1]Does this description make sense? Somewhat….(CK)