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Nearly 5 million Americans have heart failure, and it has become the most common reason for the hospitalization of patients over the age of 65.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart cannot pump the amount of blood your body needs, either because the heart's muscle is too weak or too stiff. Your primary care doctor can diagnose heart failure and may refer you to the cardiology department for treatment.
Several different heart-related problems can cause heart failure, and it often becomes a chronic, lifelong condition. In most cases heart failure cannot be cured. However, early diagnosis and proper treatment can significantly slow or partially reverse the progression of the disease.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation cardiologists and the expert care team in the Heart Failure Program work together to diagnose, treat and monitor patients with heart failure. Our specialized program helps you manage your condition by encouraging lifestyle changes, such as improvements to diet and exercise.
We also offer weekly shared medical appointments for heart failure patients. The appointments are designed to help patients treat and manage their disease on an ongoing basis. For more information about this service, please call (650) 853-2975.
Our heart failure experts, programs and facilities are among the best in the country. We offer comprehensive services that include extensive diagnostics and a wide range of therapies and procedures to manage heart failure, such as:
- Angioplasty and Stent Placement
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
- Heart Failure Medications
- Heart Transplant
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Therapy
- Transcatheter Mitral Valve
- Ventricular Assist Devices
In addition, our Health Education Resource Centers at the Palo Alto Clinic and Fremont Center offer a variety of books and videos on heart-healthy habits, and are staffed by a nurse educator and trained volunteers. For more information, call the Palo Alto Clinic at (650) 614-3200 and the Fremont Center at (510) 623-2231.
