What is this thing called heart failure? -- Coronary artery disease : the major cause of heart failure -- Cardiomyopathy : a leading cause of heart failure -- Diagnosing heart failure and its causes -- Drug treatments -- Conversations of the heart : arrhythmias and pacemakers -- Straight talk about sudden death : should I get an implantable cardioverter defibrillator? -- Surgical treatments -- Device treatments for the critically ill -- Getting a new heart -- Future therapies -- Nutrition and heart failure / by Samantha Heller -- Exercise : how much and what kind? -- The patient-doctor therapeutic relationship -- What you need to know about the hospital -- Heart failure in elderly people -- What you can do for yourself -- Where to find more information

Informed by the shared knowledge of doctor Edward K. Kasper and patient and journalist Mary Knudson, those diagnosed with heart failure and their loved ones will learn how to effectively manage the condition in this comprehensive and compassionate guide that will help readers understand: *The causes of the condition *Normal and abnormal heart rhythms *How to recognize symptoms and when to seek treatment *Which diagnostic tests to expect *The best treatments for different types of heart failure *How pacemakers work *The advantages and disadvantages of implantable cardioverter defibrillators *How to be safer in a hospital *What exercises result in increased heart, leg, arm, and core body strength *What foods to eat and what to avoid