Heart failure affects millions of Americans and is a progression of many types of heart disease.  It’s a chronic condition that occurs when the heart can’t pump oxygen-rich blood efficiently to the body, or the heart is stiff and can’t pump blood effectively through its chambers. Symptoms of heart failure include: swelling of the feet and ankles, low energy, persistent cough, fatigue, weight gain and shortness of breath. It may be managed through medication and lifestyle changes. Advanced heart failure may require transplant or a LVAD device to help the heart pump efficiently.

On this episode of the Hurley in the Morning radio show, Dr. Geurys Rojas-Marte discusses, causes of heart failure, staging the disease and diagnosis. He gives guidance living with heart failure and managing risk factors, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes.