Heart failure
Heart failure is an indication that the heart is no longer working at its full potential. The heart is unable to pump blood as well as normal, which prevents the heart from receiving all the blood and oxygen it requires. Lifestyle changes and medication are popular treatment plans to combat heart failure.
Heart failure programs in Greater Denver
Heart transplants aren't the only option for heart failure — we offer programs that manage your symptoms and help you thrive.
At HealthONE our dedicated heart failure specialists work with you to form a personalized treatment plan that reduces your chances of readmission.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Conditions that can lead to heart failure
Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart doesn't pump as it should. There are many different things that can cause this, such as:
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Abnormal heart valves
- Birth abnormalities
- Certain chemotherapy agents
- Congenital heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Excess alcohol intake
- Heart muscle diseases
- High blood pressure
- History of blocked heart arteries
- History of heart attack
- Hyperthyroidism
- Obesity
- Severe anemia
- Severe lung disease
- Sleep apnea
- Smoking
- Structural heart diseases
- Viral heart infections
Heart failure services we provide
Though some conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, others cannot. However, with treatment, we can help you experience reduced symptoms of heart failure and a better quality of life.
Heart failure symptoms
Heart failure can appear in many forms, and only your doctor can tell you if you are actually experiencing it. If you think you may be at risk, visit your doctor as soon as possible.
Symptoms you may need to look out for include:
- Difficulty breathing when lying down
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue and weakness
- Increased urge to urinate at night
- Lack of appetite
- Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink phlegm
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath after physical exertion or even lying down
- Weight gain and swelling of the legs and ankles from fluid retention
Diagnosing heart failure
Getting to the root of your heart problem is essential to determining the underlying cause of your heart failure. We offer numerous heart screening and imaging services to better understand heart failure, including:
- Blood tests
- Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) tests
- Computerized tomography (CT) scans
- Echocardiograms (heart ultrasounds)
Treating heart failure
Contrary to how the name may sound, heart failure, otherwise known as congestive heart failure (CHF), does not mean your heart has stopped beating. It refers to the fact that the heart muscle has become too weak to properly pump blood throughout the body.
It is important you and your doctor work together to manage your symptoms so you feel better and prevent the heart from further weakening.
To help with this goal, we offer a variety of CHF treatment options, such as:
- Device implants — including pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators
- Lifestyle changes — including exercise, quitting smoking and eating well
- Medications — including beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Participation in clinical trials — including trials for various new medications and leading-edge procedures
- Surgical procedures — including coronary artery bypass grafting and heart valve repair or replacement
Our hospitals heart failure clinics
Our hospitals offer heart failure support programs to provide you with a comprehensive approach to heart failure management. We understand that when you are experiencing heart failure, you may need more individualized treatment and follow-up care than with other conditions.
The primary goal of our programs are to reduce future admissions to the hospital. To do this, we will:
- Educate both you and your family on the treatment and management of heart failure, lifestyle modifications and available medications
- Help you manage your heart failure needs by having experts available for phone consults or same-day appointments
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