Tailoring Treatments to Each Patient
University of Chicago Medicine's heart failure team is determined to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient to ensure each patient has the best results possible. We know that the treatment approach depends on the cause of your condition(s). In some cases, medication and lifestyle changes can alleviate symptoms, while in other cases, surgery will be the recommended therapy. The goal of medical and surgical interventions for heart failure is to slow the progression of the condition and to improve the individual’s quality of life.
Medical Care for Heart Failure
We offer a variety of medical options to manage heart failure, such as making lifestyle changes that can delay the advancement of heart failure and other cardiac diseases. Also, cardiac rehabilitation may be effective for patients with stable, chronic heart failure using exercise, behavioral and risk factor reduction, health education and personal counseling. Finally, we have access to a wide array of heart failure medications that can be taken alone or in combination. Carefully chosen, FDA-approved medications can enhance the heart’s function and improve symptoms, including:
- ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and ARBs angiotensin receptor blockers): To widen blood vessels and lower blood pressure
- Beta-blockers: To slow heart rate
- Aldosterone blockers: To prevent remodeling of the heart
- Diuretics: To prevent fluid retention and relieve swelling
- Digoxin: To help the heart pump more efficiently
- Vasodilators: To lower blood pressure, reducing the heart’s workload
Surgical Options for Heart Failure
Heart failure patients may need surgery to replace faulty heart valves, bypass narrowed arteries, implant sophisticated devices to boost circulation or undergo a heart transplant. Our patients can feel confident in UChicago Medicine's leading heart surgeons. In fact, our surgeons pioneered many procedures for heart failure, and continue to develop innovative devices and new surgical techniques to treat the condition.
