Heart Failure Treatments

Heart failure patients may need multiple medications. Each medication is designed to treat different symptoms. It is very important that heart failure patients take their medications exactly are directed. Common heart failure medications include:

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors: Relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and put less strain on your heart.
• Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (or Inhibitors): Similar benefits as the ACE Inhibitors.
• Angiotensin-Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitors (ARNIs): Two blood pressure drugs are used to treat heart failure.
• If Channel Blocker (or inhibitor): Calcium channel blockers are used to limit how your body uses the essential mineral calcium.
• Beta Blockers (Also known as Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents): Slow the heart rate
• Aldosterone Antagonists: Used in the treatment of systolic heart failure.
• Hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate (specifically benefits African-Americans with heart failure): Isosorbide dinitrate belongs to the group of medicines called nitrates. It works by relaxing the blood vessels and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its work load. Hydralazine works by relaxing the blood vessels and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its work load.
• Diuretics (Also known as water pills): Help people to urinate more frequently to prevent build up of fluid in the body.

Your doctor may also prescribe other less commonly used drugs depending on your additional health problems. These drugs include:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners): These drugs may be prescribed if you are a heart failure patient with atrial fibrillation or have another problem with your heart. Anticoagulants are not used to treat heart failure without the presence of atrial fibrillation.
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins): Your doctor may prescribe this class of medication if you have high cholesterol or have had a heart attack. This class of drugs is not used to treat heart failure, but other conditions as indicated.
• Digoxin: Some heart failure patients might be prescribed this drug if the doctor feels it’s warranted.

Source: American Heart Association

Heart failure is a chronic disease that typically gets worse over time. However, if your heart failure is caused by an underlying condition, such as blocked coronary arteries or a heart valve problem, treating this condition may reverse heart failure.

Yes, lifestyle modifications can make a big difference. Following a heart healthy diet that is low in saturated fat, sodium, added sugars and cutting back on processed foods is essential. Staying active is very important with some type of physical activity every day. It is important to quit smoking, manage your stress, track your fluid intake, avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine, as well as managing your weight.

Patients should see their healthcare provider every three to six months. If you are hospitalized because of heart failure or your symptoms worsen, your provider may need to see you more frequently.

Frequent hospitalizations and worsening symptoms are indications that the treatment need to be modified.

People with end-stage heart failure may need a heart transplant or mechanical assistance for the heart to do its job. Heart transplant allows us to replace someone's failing heart with a healthier heart from a donor. Your doctor may recommend a heart transplant if other heart failure treatments have been unsuccessful.

Another treatment option is to have our expert surgeons implant a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, that helps circulate the blood with a small pump (see ventricular assist devices).

There are other surgical options to treat related conditions that cause heart failure, such as coronary artery stenting and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), open and transcatheter procedures to treat various heart valve conditions, and defibrillator implants and surgical ablation to treat heart rhythm conditions.