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2018 | HFSA

Recap: Heart Failure Awareness Week 2018 #HFChat2018 Twitter Chat

Practice News Heart Failure Awareness 365

Happy Valentine's Day! In observance of Heart Failure Awareness Week, the Heart Failure Society of America hosted #HFChat2018 and was joined by American Heart Failure Association of Nurses, the Heart Brothers Foundation, and Mended Hearts to discuss what we can do to improve heart failure care and awareness. Below is the complete transcript of the discussion.

#HFChat2018 Twitter Chat Transcript:

Question 1: What is #heartfailure and how big of an issue is it in the US and beyond? #HFChat2018

Heart Failure Society of America (@HFSA)

  • Q1/A1: #Heartfailure is a progressive condition in which the heart’s muscle gets injured from something like a heart attack or high blood pressure and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs. #HFChat2018
  • Q1/A2: Current estimates are that nearly 6.5 million Americans over the age of 20 have #heartfailure. One major study estimates there are 960,000 new heart failure cases annually. #HFChat2018
  • Q1/A3: #Heartfailure directly accounts for about 8.5% of all heart disease deaths in the United States. And, by some estimates heart failure actually contributes to about 36% of all cardiovascular disease deaths. #HFChat2018

The Heart Brothers Foundation (@HeartBrothers1)

  • Q1/A1: It is the inability for your heart to pump enough oxygen rich blood through your other organs. Often misdiagnosed as pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. #HFChat2018
  • Q1/A2: It was historically considered an old person disease, but we are encountering over 25% of our patients are under 40yrs old. #HFChat2018

Mended Hearts (@MendedHearts)

  • Q1/A1: When your heart can’t pump blood out as well as it should, it is systolic heart failure #HFChat2018
  • Q1/A2: When your heart become stiff and does not easily fill up with blood, it is called diastolic heart failure #HFChat2018
  • Q1/A3: A major health issue among Americans, chronic heart failure touches many lives. NIH reports that 5.8 million Americans have heart failure #HFChat2018
  • Q1/A4: HF was a contributing cause in one of nine deaths in 2009. Nearly 1 million Americans are hospitalized each year with chronic heart failure #HFChat2018

Question 2: What do patients and care providers need to know regarding #heartfailure#HFChat2018

Heart Failure Society of America (@HFSA)

  • Q2/A1: Often times #heartfailure is misdiagnosed so it is important to understand patients that may be at risk due to lifestyle or family history and encourage preventative actions. #HFChat2018
  • Q2/A2: One issue that needs to be discussed in #heartfailure is palliative care. This is health care that does not seek to cure a disease, but to soothe, prevent, reduce, or relieve symptoms. #HFChat2018

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (@AAHFN)

  • Q2/A1: Symptoms are often unrecognized and insidious in nature #HFChat2018

The Heart Brothers Foundation (@HeartBrothers1)

  • Q2/A1: HF is a degenerative condition with an average age expectancy of 5 yrs from the date of diagnosis. It is often debilitating, BUT with proper care you can live a fairly normal life. #HFChat2018
  • Q2/A2: Today there is only one medical cure for heart failure and that is heart transplantation. #HFChat2018

Mended Hearts (@MendedHearts)

  • Q2/A1: HF can be treated and managed very effectively in many cases. Often, a combination of therapies is used to treat the condition and its symptoms #HFChat2018
  • Q2/A2: HF doesn’t mean your heart has stopped working. Rather, it refers to a condition in which your heart isn’t pumping all the blood your body needs #HFChat2018
  • Q2/A3: You are not alone. There is support available for you from mendedhearts.org #HFChat2018.

Question 3: What can be done to improve outcomes of patients diagnosed with #heartfailure#HFChat2018

Heart Failure Society of America (@HFSA)

  • Q3/A1: Making positive lifestyle changes is almost always necessary for people with #heartfailure. This often includes changing your diet, getting more physical activity into your day, and quitting if you smoke. #HFChat2018
  • Q3/A2: Improve health outcomes by identifying patients’ modifiable health risks and providing follow-up behavior change interventions. #HFChat2018
  • Q3/A3: Some #heartfailure does not have good treatment options. If you have this condition, you may want to consider enrolling in or learning more about clinical trials to help find effective treatments. #HFChat2018
  • Q3/A4: You need accurate information about #heartfailure, especially your specific condition, to make good decisions about your care. Talking honestly with your doctor or nurse is the best way to get that information. #HFChat2018
  • Q3/A5: Providers should have open and honest discussions with patients and caregivers throughout their #heartfailure journey to ensure the patients are educated on their disease at each phase, and equipped to manage their HF effectively. #HFChat2018

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (@AAHFN)

  • Q3/A1:  follow the ACC/AHA guidelines for all appropriate patients! #HFChat2018

The Heart Brothers Foundation (@HeartBrothers1)

  • Q3/A1: A low salt diet is key! Also exercise as much as you can tolerate, take medications exactly as your doctor says, and listen to your nurses’ and doctors’ instructions #HFChat2018

Mended Hearts (@MendedHearts)

  • Q3/A1: Early diagnosis and adherence to treatment plan is key to success #HFChat2018
  • Q3/A2: One of the most important tools in treating HF is medication. There are several categories of medication that people with HF are often prescribed #HFChat2018
  • Q3/A3: Making healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle can help improve the symptoms of chronic heart failure #HFChat2018

Question 4: What is being done to make sure physicians, nurses, and pharmacists across the healthcare continuum know the best practices when treating/managing a #heartfailure patient? #HFChat2018

Heart Failure Society of America (@HFSA)

  • Q4/A1: Provide guidance to providers offering clinical preventive care, health promotion, and disease management services on ways to use #heartfailure health risk assessment tools followed by evidence-based health improvement programs. #HFChat2018
  • Q4/A2: Understanding risk factors for HF (obesity, DM, CAD, hypertension, smoking and substance abuse) and prevalence. Focus on both prevention of risk factors, and also early detection of #heartfailure if they have risk factors #HFChat2018
  • Q4/A3: There are screening blood test (BNP or NT pro BNP) and other noninvasive tests (echo) that can be done by your PCP should you do demonstrate symptoms. Don’t be afraid to ask. #HFChat2018

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (@AAHFN)

  • Q4/A1: Recent updates to the 2013 guidelines outlining best practices for heart failure patients #HFChat2018
  • Q4/A2: ACC, HFSA, AAHFN and other organizations offer many educational opportunities for clinicians and patients

The Heart Brothers Foundation (@HeartBrothers1)

  • Q4/A1: HFSA annual meetings are good – – along with CME events – – as a great way to get the most up to date info on best practices and webinars. #HFChat2018

Q5: How can providers advocate and improve #heartfailure patient care and outcomes? #HFChat2018

Heart Failure Society of America (@HFSA)

  • Q5/A1: #Heartfailure organizations should educate members on health policy and health economics to help them become more effective advocates. #HFChat2018
  • Q5/A2: Assist #heartfailure patients with better understanding how to work with the payer community in order to gain access to the appropriate medications and HF management services. #HFChat2018
  • Q5/A3: It is imperative we educate the public in our local communities about these staggering facts and get the word out about #heartfailure and prevention factors. #HFChat2018

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (@AAHFN)

  • Q5/A1: Careful assessment of symptoms and associated risks is warranted to applied appropriate therapies to individual patients #HFChat2018

The Heart Brothers Foundation (@HeartBrothers1)

  • Q5/A1: Utilize patient advocacy groups like Mended Hearts and the HeartBrothers. Other than that, peer-to-peer support groups if they are available to you. #HFChat2018
  • Q5/A2: Go talk to patients yourself when admitted. Do not let patients or loved ones give up hope. Our founders lived good lives before transplants. #HFChat2018

Mended Hearts (@MendedHearts)

  • Q5/A1: Assure patients are connected with peer support like Mended Hearts, provide education tools #HFChat2018
  • Q5/A2: Provide practical guidance and lifestyle skills to patients #HFChat2018

Q6: How can individuals make a difference within their community to reduce #heartfailure#HFChat2018

Heart Failure Society of America (@HFSA)

  • Q6/A1: Take action in your local area by hosting a Public forum or event on #heartfailure throughout the year. #HFChat2018
  • Q6/A2: Talk with your healthcare provider/patient about support options available. There may be #heartfailure support groups meeting in local areas. These can be good sources of encouragement and information for people with heart failure. #HFChat2018
  • Q6/A3: Share with family, friends, and neighbors in your community the importance of living a heart smart life. #HFChat2018

American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (@AAHFN)

  • Q6/A1: Prevention is key – control bp, stay active, and maintain routine follow up with your healthcare team #HFChat2018

The Heart Brothers Foundation (@HeartBrothers1)

  • Q6/A1: Tell your stories at church, Kiwanis, etc. or local papers, radio, and TV. Get the word out about heart failure and all its issues and complications. #HFChat2018
  • Q6/A2: Join a group of peer-to-peer assistance so you can be one voice of many heart failure patients acting in your own community. #HFChat2018

Mended Hearts (@MendedHearts)

  • Q6/A1: Be a voice for others and get involved. Share your story #HFChat2018