About Our Program |
Adult Congenital Heart Disease |
Cardiac Rehabilitation |
Cardiac Surgery |
Cardiovascular Imaging |
Chest Pain |
Conditions and Illnesses |
Finding the Right Cardiologist |
Heart Failure |
Heart Rhythm Management |
Heart Transplantation |
Interventional Cardiology |
Our Physicians |
Our Services |
Patient Education Materials |
Prevention and Nutrition |
Stress Testing |
Support Groups and Resources
Congestive heart failure typically develops slowly and involves a gradual loss in the ability of the heart to pump blood at normal levels. In contrast, a heart attack is a sudden event where the heart stops beating even though it has the capacity to pump blood.
Tests and Exams
UT Southwestern Medical Center cardiologists can accurately diagnose a patient’s type of heart failure and prescribe the appropriate medication and other treatments needed to control symptoms and improve the patient’s well-being. Using cardiac catheterization, CT scan, echocardiogram or electrocardiogram examinations, our specialists can pinpoint the nature of heart failure and recommend appropriate lifestyle changes, as well as medications or surgical procedures to improve a person’s condition.
Treatment
If medications fail to relieve symptoms, a patient may be eligible for a pacemaker implant. Our cardiologists will thoroughly explain all of the factors that influence the decision regarding whether a pacemaker or other surgical intervention can significantly improve one’s quality of life. In addition, our cardiovascular specialists can determine whether a person is a candidate for receiving a biventricular pacemaker, which can reduce the fatigue, shortness of breath and exercise intolerance experienced as a result of heart failure.
Patient Education
UT Southwestern has the advanced medical resources and diagnostic techniques that enable patients to lead a long and healthy life. Our cardiovascular specialists can discuss all of the options available to effectively treat specific conditions of heart failure.
For more information, please visit the Health Library.
