SelectHealth | Total Fitness | Winter 2016

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Contributor Kismet Rasmusson, DNP,
FNP-BC, FAHA, CHFN
Heart Failure and Transplant program
Intermountain Heart Institute
Heart disease is the leading cause
of death in the United States
). Therefore, preventing
and treating all forms of heart disease
remains a significant focus across
healthcare communities.
Heart failure is a form of heart disease that
occurs when the heart muscle is either
weak (not squeezing normally), stiff (not
relaxing normally), or both. Heart failure
is a common condition—affecting nearly
6 million individuals in the U.S.—that
can occur from a variety of causes. Heart
failure leads to a syndrome of symptoms,
including shortness of breath, fluid
retention, and activity intolerance. Heart
failure is a chronic condition that can
usually be managed with lifestyle changes
and medications in conjunction with close
follow-up with your doctor.
What can you do to help prevent
heart failure? The principles of
preventing heart failure are generally
the same as preventing other forms
of cardiovascular disease: Identify risk
factors and treat them early. The most
common risk factors for developing
heart failure include high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity,
use of toxic substances (excessive
alcohol consumption, illicit drugs, and
some chemotherapies), and a family
history of cardiomyopathy—or heart
muscle disease.
If you have any of these risk factors for
developing heart disease, it is important
to make a plan with your doctor to
minimize your risk through diet, exercise,
and medications when necessary.
Controlling your blood pressure, your
weight, and staying active will go a long
way toward staying healthy.
Study
up!
Here’s a test you can’t
afford to fail
heart to heart
—Continued on page 5
4 Total Fitness | Winter 2016 |