When your heart is unable to pump blood properly, you may be diagnosed with congestive heart failure, which is a chronic condition that can get worse over time. Getting treatment sooner may help slow the progression and relieve symptoms. Heart specialists at Ascension St. John are skilled in diagnosing and treating heart failure. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and swollen ankles, legs or stomach. When you choose Ascension St. John for your heart failure care, you get cardiologists and surgeons trained in the latest heart care testing, treatment and procedures. As part of a national care team across Ascension sites of care, your doctors share best practices and research, delivering advanced heart care close to home.
Every appointment starts with a conversation about how you are feeling, any new symptoms or concerns. Your care team will take the time to answer all your questions. By getting to know you, your doctor and care team deliver the heart care that’s right for you.
Your doctor connects the dots for your care -- including connecting you to heart screenings and the right cardiovascular specialists. To diagnose heart failure, your doctor may recommend testing, such as:
- Cardiac nuclear imaging
- Echocardiogram (TTE)
- Exercise stress testing
- Right and left heart catheterization
- Stress echocardiograms
- Transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE)
- 24-hour ambulatory EKG monitoring “Holter”
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Congestive heart failure treatments and care
Congestive heart failure is a condition that has stages and gets worse over time. Cardiovascular disease, such as narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (AFib), a leaky heart valve, and inherited conditions can cause congestive heart failure. Your doctor listens to understand you. Then, your doctor works with you to create a care plan that’s right for you.
Our multispecialty cardiovascular care teams deliver many treatment options for advanced heart failure, including:
- Diagnostic testing and imaging for congestive heart failure
- Information on healthy lifestyle, including exercise and nutrition
- Medication management
Get a second opinion on your heart or vascular condition, diagnosis or care plan
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and cardiovascular care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension St. John. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized heart care plan.
When you are facing a new diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. If you are looking for a second opinion for advanced heart care, our cardiologists can also connect you with the right specialists for minimally invasive surgery and open-heart surgery, including coronary bypass, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and ventricular assist devices (VADs). Our heart and vascular specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national care team.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
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Helping you transition home from the hospital
After you leave the hospital, your care team will help you manage your heart condition until you are seen by your heart doctor. You are given information on how to take care of your heart to help avoid a more serious condition. Your care team includes a pharmacist and nurse practitioner who work with you and your doctor to help you transition from the hospital to your home.
Frequently asked questions about heart failure
