Center for Heart Failure Overview

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is weaker than normal, resulting in inadequate circulation of blood around the body. Eventually, heart failure leads to the failure of other vital organs due to this inadequate blood flow. Heart failure affects 5 million Americans, and there are more than 550,000 new cases each year.

Diagnosing and Treating Heart Failure

Using an integrated and collaborative approach, heart failure is diagnosed, staged, and treated with a wide array of comprehensive therapies and treatments ranging from carefully chosen medications, to ventricular assist devices and complex heart surgery including heart transplantation.

Team Approach for Heart Failure

Heart failure is a debilitating and often lethal disease that requires comprehensive management including carefully chosen medications, prudent surgical intervention and cardiac rehabilitation. The Center for Heart Failure's outstanding multidisciplinary team uses a systematic approach to manage patients with heart failure.

Clinical Trials for Heart Failure

The Center for Heart Failure is also currently conducting clinical research trials to test the latest devices and drugs related to heart failure and to identify genetic risk factors that may be responsible for heart failure and sudden cardiac death. These ongoing clinical research trials help to ensure that our patients continue to receive the most innovative care for heart failure in the country.

Emotional and Behavioral Health for Heart Failure

Cardiac treatment is most successful when it focuses on the physical, emotional and behavioral health of the patient. Northwestern's Cardiac Behavioral Medicine service was created with the understanding that the mind and body (the heart, in particular) influence each other.

Kim L. Feingold, PhD, director of Cardiac Behavioral Medicine, Gail M. Osterman, PhD, and Paul Goetz, PhD, are clinical cardiac psychologists that specialize in helping patients and their families adjust to a diagnosis and cope with challenges throughout the course of treatment. 

Contact

For more information regarding heart failure, please contact the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at 1-866-662-8467 or request a first time appointment online.

For more information regarding clinical trials related to heart rhythm disorders, please view the Clinical Trials Unit of Northwestern page, send an email or call 312-926-4000.