Heart Failure: From Victim to Survivor

Affected by heart failure, Rochelle Koznick took action to become a survivor

(NewsUSA) - In the world of professional poker, a "tell" is a clue that a player unconsciously gives others that tips his hand. In real life, your body gives tells, small clues that may forewarn you that your heart is not working properly. The trick is to recognize the tells so you can take action.

"I didn't really recognize it, and I blamed it a lot on menopause," said Rochelle Koznick, age 50, one of the patients featured in a documentary recently produced by Boston Scientific in partnership with the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses. "I'd wake up feeling very fatigued and would have a hard time exercising when I was on the treadmill."

The documentary aims to educate the public about heart failure and its subtle tells. From Victim to Survivor: Heart Failure Journeys follows seven people on their own personal heart failure journeys.

Heart failure impairs the ability of the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. The disorder can develop when the heart is damaged from various types of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease, or from non-cardiac diseases such as diabetes. It can also develop as a result of obesity, high blood pressure or genetics. Symptoms or tells include fatigue and shortness of breath, chest congestion and swelling in the feet and legs.

"Heart failure is quickly becoming an epidemic across the country. We are facing the aging baby boom generation, and heart failure is a phenomenon of older Americans," said Eric Ernst, M.D., heart failure specialist, Minnesota Heart Clinic.

Although the condition is more common in people over 65, heart failure can affect people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles.

Physicians have many tools to assess and treat heart failure. Treatment options include lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications and losing weight, medications like beta blockers and ACE inhibitors or device therapy.

People who recognize the tells, will know to go to their doctor to find out more information about their treatment options and take action to manage their heart failure.

"Now, people say to me, 'Oh my gosh, you look so much better.' More importantly, I feel a ton better." said Koznick.

To order a free DVD of "From Victim to Survivor: Heart Failure Journeys," call Boston Scientific at 1-866-484-3268 and press "2" to speak to a technical services representative. You can also view excerpts from the documentary at www.lifebeatonline.com.