WellSpan York Hospital Offers Expert Congestive Heart Failure Treatment By Barry Sparks
“CHF can be difficult to diagnose, and sometimes there may be a delay,” he says. “If we diagnose it early, we WellSpan offers state-of-thehave a full toolbox of treatments art treatments that include new we can use. If you’re experiencing medications and new devices to treat symptoms of CHF, ask your provider congestive heart failure (CHF), the to check to see if you have CHF. Our leading cause of hospitalization for current treatments can improve the people older than 65. quality of life and extend life by years. “We have developed an expertise Many patients reach their normal in treating CHF patients,” says Dr. lifespan.” Adnan Malik, medical director of Great improvements in the heart failure services at WellSpan. treatment of CHF have been made in “We treat more than 1,000 CHF the past two or three years, according patients a year. The high volume to Malik. New classes of medications allows us to build a larger team, — such as SGLT2 inhibitors and provide cutting-edge treatment, and IMPULSE Optimizer® Smart device delivers the drug Entresto — have improved acquire the latest technology.” precisely timed energy pulses to the heart. outcomes. Specialized pacemakers are CHF is a chronic, progressive now available. Patients with advanced condition in which the heart is unable CHF may be candidates for left to pump blood well enough to meet ventricle assist device (LVAD) surgery. the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. WellSpan York Hospital recently Almost 6 million Americans have implanted its first Optimizer Smart CHF. device, which can help patients with Many medical conditions that moderate to severe CHF. Designed damage the heart muscle can cause to increase the strength of the heart’s CHF, including: contractions and allow it to pump • Coronary heart disease more blood, the FDA-approved device, which is about the size of a pacemaker, • Heart attack is implanted in a small pocket under • Cardiomyopathy the skin of the upper chest. • Congenital heart disease Using pacemaker leads, the device sends electrical pulses to the heart • Diabetes muscle for five to seven hours a day, • High blood pressure in one-hour treatments separated by regular intervals. Most patients can • Tobacco and recreational drug return home soon after the implant use is completed and return to everyday • Chemotherapy drugs Dr. Adnan Malik, medical director of activities shortly afterward. heart failure services at WellSpan. Malik believes WellSpan’s team “The symptoms of CHF are very approach to treating CHF works best unsettling and include shortness of breath, feeling tired, less able for patients and produces the best outcomes. to exercise, and swollen feet, ankles, and abdomen,” Malik says. “Our patients have access to a highly skilled and trained Malik says it’s important for patients to seek medical team of cardiologists and nurse practitioners, plus the best and attention as soon as possible. newest treatments,” he says. “Taking care of patients in their Some of the complications of CHF include irregular community improves care by dramatic measures. Patients heartbeat, sudden cardiac arrest, heart valve problems, fluid have easy access to our team, caregivers, and loved ones who in the lungs, pulmonary hypertension, kidney damage, liver participate in their care.” damage, and malnutrition. Ultimately, it can be fatal.
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Heart Health 2023
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