Educating communities during Heart Failure Awareness Week

The Comprehensive Heart Failure Program encourages UC Davis Health faculty, staff, students and patients to learn more about heart failure — what it is, why it occurs, and how to prevent and treat it — during Heart Failure Awareness Week.

A staggering public health problem, about 6 million Americans are living with heart failure today. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons people 65 and older go into the hospital.

Preventing heart failure involves controlling other conditions, such as:

• hypertension
• coronary artery disease
• diabetes
• hyperlipidemia
• obesity
• arrhythmias
• valvular disease
• substance abuse
• thyroid disorders

Eating a heart-healthy diet, quitting tobacco use and participating in a regular exercise program are also important preventions.

During Heart Failure Awareness Week (Feb. 13-19), join heart health experts on UC Davis Health’s Facebook page for conversations about heart failure. Guests will include specialists from the heart failure, heart transplantation and mechanical cardiovascular support team programs, who will discuss heart failure symptoms, prevention, treatment and more.

Heart Failure Awareness Week schedule

Feb. 14 at 12 p.m. - The basics of heart failure

What is heart failure and how common is it? The presenters will focus on seven ways - recommended by the American Heart Association - to prevent heart disease. They will provide special tools to help people stay heart healthy!

Featuring:

Genevieve Lynch, heart failure nurse practitioner at the UC Davis Cardiology Clinic

Margaret Junker, registered dietician and certified diabetes care and education specialist at the UC Davis Cardiology Clinic

Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. - Living well with Heart Failure

What can help people with heart failure live longer and improve their quality of life? What are the best heart failure treatments? The presenters will review lifestyle changes and medications used to treat heart failure. They will discuss the benefits of treatment, common side effects and tips to help patients achieve success.

Featuring:

Svetlana Goldman, clinical pharmacist at the Specialty Pharmacy Cardiology

Yvette Mitchell, clinical pharmacist at the Specialty Pharmacy Cardiology

Kathie Tran, clinical float pharmacist at the Specialty Clinic

Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. - All about Heart Failure (Spanish-language version)

What is heart failure? How to prevent it? What are the available treatments for heart failure patients? These questions and more will be answered during this session, delivered in Spanish.

Featuring:

Martin Cadeiras, associate professor and medical director for the Advanced Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Program

Stella M. Yala, associate physician diplomate at the Advanced Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Program

Link to all sessions: https://www.facebook.com/UCDavisHealth/