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Heart failure is a common and serious illness, but patients who actively manage their condition can live more healthful lives.
By Sharonne N. Hayes, M.D., FACC
There are seeds of hope among news reports that more older Americans have heart failure.
In the past few years, an explosion of new and effective treatments and strategies has dramatically changed how patients and health-care providers view the disease. "Living with heart failure" is an expression that signals that the diagnosis is not a death sentence.
Many heart-failure patients lead normal, active lives. The key to their success is their daily involvement with their care.
Some health insurance plans even assign case managers to help patients find doctors who specialize in heart-failure management. If you or a family member has heart failure but not a formal care plan, you should discuss developing one at your next doctor's appointment.
The following seven elements should be a part of nearly every patient's self-care plan.
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