How to heal heart failure

FREMONT — As the nation recognized Heart Failure Awareness Week, Feb. 8-14, and American Heart Month throughout February, ProMedica Memorial Hospital is encouraging the community to better understand one of the most common and fast-growing heart conditions in the U.S. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. While the term sounds alarming, ProMedica advanced heart failure cardiologist Dr. Imad Hariri wants people to know that it is both treatable and manageable. "Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working," Hariri said. "With the right treatment plan, many patients can live comfortably and avoid repeated hospitalizations. Our goal is to replace fear with understanding." Hariri is one of only about 1,000 advanced heart failure cardiologists nationwide and one of two at ProMedica. After growing up in Toledo, he chose to specialize in this rare field to ensure local patients could access advanced heart care close to home. The most common risk factors include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, obesity and sleep apnea. Lifestyle factors — such as alcohol use, drug use or a high‑sodium diet — also increase risk. "Today's heart failure treatments are more effective than ever," Hariri said. "We now have four pillars of medical therapy that improve survival dramatically along with remote monitoring, infusion therapy and advanced programs that help keep patients stable and out of the hospital." ProMedica's heart failure clinic in Fremont provides interdisciplinary, personalized care, including medication management, education, remote monitoring and specialized therapies for severe symptoms. "Heart failure is common, but with expert care, people can live better and longer," Hariri said.