MONAHRQ Demo - Heart failure

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Heart failure. Heart failure happens when the heart can't pump enough blood through the body. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. The weakening of the heart's pumping ability causes blood and fluid to back up into the lungs and build up in the feet, ankles and legs. You may feel tired and short of breath. 5 million people in the U.S. have heart failure. The condition causes 300,000 deaths each year.1 Heart failure is most common in people 65 years and older. It is the number one reason older people go to the hospital.1 (1 NIHSeniorHealth: Heart Failure - What is Heart Failure?) Select to Compare Hospitals for this Topic. Comparing hospitals can help you spot potentially problematic safety concerns for hospitals you're considering.

Tips / Checklist: If you have heart failure, make heart-healthy lifestyle changes like healthy eating; keeping a healthy weight, exercise, and quitting smoking. Gaining weight due to fluids building up in your body may be a sign that heart failure is getting worse. Talk to your doctor about checking your weight and when to report weight changes. Following your treatment plan can lessen your symptoms, make daily activities easier, and reduce the chance that you'll have to go to the hospital. How do hospitals in In My State perform on Heart failure?
Dying within 30-days after getting care in the hospital for heart failure: 12.1%. Returning to the hospital after getting care for heart failure: 21.7%. Select to Compare Hospitals for this Topic. Comparing hospitals can help you make better health care decisions for you and your loved ones.

WHY SHOULD YOU COMPARE? All hospitals are not the same. Some are better overall, some are not so good. Some do well in some areas of care but not in others. Comparing hospitals helps: Spot potentially problematic safety concerns for hospitals you're considering. Make better health care decisions for you and your loved ones. Show you how hospitals you're considering perform in critical safety areas. Talking with your doctor shows you want to be a partner in your care. It also helps remind your care team to take certain actions to keep you as safe as possible. Select to Compare Hospitals for this Topic. Find hospitals that perform best in the areas you care about.

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