Interview Section : Healthtalkonline

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Discovery :
What is heart failure?
Getting the diagnosis
Impact of the diagnosis
What causes it: heart attack and angina
Other causes: valvular disease and cardiomyopathy
People's ideas about causes
Stress and heart failure
Feeling breathless, tired and lifeless
Oedema, palpitations and wakefulness
Looking for information

Tests and treatments :
Tests to measure heart function and strength
Angiograms and angioplasty
Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics
Warfarin, digoxin and statins
Side effects of medication
Surgery and medical devices for heart failure
Heart transplants

Follow-up and support :
Specialist nurses
Cardiac rehabilitation and support groups
Follow-up visits, hospitals and GP's
Communicating with medical staff

Living with it :
Home life and everyday routines
Sports, hobbies and activities
Travelling, holidays and trips away from home
Coping with medication
Eating, drinking and exercise
Bad days, anxiety and depression
What carers think
Complementary therapies
Reaching acceptance
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Heart failure

People's stories

Aged 80+

Interview HF15

Interview HF15

Age at Interview: 85
Sex: Male
Background: Retired postal worker; married with 3 children.

Brief outline:Heart attack 1996. Pacemaker 2001. Heart failure diagnosed afterwards.

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He realizes he must seem lazy but he cannot manage to do many things.
Print Oh, I mean I can't walk from here to the window without stopping. At one time I could do different things and do things without worrying about it, but now you don't want to, it makes you feel lazy. You're inclined just to sit back and do nothing. You're not in the mood for doing anything, and when you're not in the mood for doing anything it can be frustrating for the house, housepeople as well. My wife doesn't like it when I just sit back and do nothing but I can't help it, I'm afraid.

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