MYTH: Heart failure doesn’t mean that your heart has stopped beating.

Heart failure occurs when your heart muscle or valves have been damaged so that your heart isn’t able to pump blood around your body as well as it should. This means that your blood can't deliver enough oxygen or nourishment to your body which may cause you to feel tired and fatigued.  People with heart failure often cannot effectively remove waste products from their body causing fluid to build up in areas such as the legs and abdomen.

Heart failure often develops because you have (or had) coronary artery disease or a heart attack. However, there are many other reasons why you may have heart failure such as, heart blood pressure, valvular heart disease, heart muscle disease and arrhythmias.

Heart failure can develop at any age and is the most common cause of hospitalization in patients over 65 years of age.

Office visits will typically occur every six months once you complete your qualifying visit. There may be periodic telephone calls throughout the study. Study duration is approximately 2 years.

• Study-related visits and test are provided to volunteers at no charge
• Compensation for time and travel is provided for each study visit that is completed
• Tests and procedures may include:

• • Blood pressure measurements
  • Height, weight and pulse
  • Possible Laboratory blood draws
  • Possible EKGs,
  • Data collection