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Clinic gives heart failure patients second chancesAt 80 years old, Roy Preuss is still having fun. He enjoys a daily trek on his mountain bike, takes good care of his home and gardens and loves driving both his John Deere riding mower and '95 Buick LeSabre. Always active and on the go, Roy says he isn't about to stop now. When he was diagnosed with heart failure last year, he refused to accept the suggestion of one doctor to move into a nursing home. Instead, his family took him to the heart care experts at St. Luke's Medical Center. Today, Roy is confident he will “live to be 111.” “I was pretty close to the coffin last year,” Roy says. “Without a doubt, the doctors and nurses at St. Luke's gave me a second chance at life.” Heart failure means that the heart muscle is weakened and cannot pump blood as well as it should. Some of the blood that should be pumped out of the heart may back up instead of move forward. Fluid can then build up in the lungs as well as other parts of the body. Heart failure is not curable. With appropriate medication, diet and exercise, however, it often is manageable. At St. Luke's Medical Center, Roy's condition was stabilized and he began a series of regular visits to the hospital's outpatient Heart Failure Clinic led by cardiologist T. Edward Hastings, DO. “Heart failure is the number-one admitting diagnosis to hospitals today,” says Dr. Hastings. “The goal of our clinic is to keep people out of the hospital. By educating patients about their disease and its process, and helping them be proactive in their care, we've helped a lot of them enjoy life again. Many of our patients have done amazingly well.” Effective medical management of heart failure slows the progression of the disease and reduces symptoms, such as tiredness, weakness and swelling. If medication combined with a special diet and a careful balance of rest and activity aren't effective, other options, such as pacemakers, may be available. For now, Roy is managing exceptionally well with medications and healthy lifestyle habits. With the clinic's help, he's learned everything possible about his condition and truly feels in partnership with his health care team. “They enlightened me,” says Roy. “I'm well aware of what I should and shouldn't do and why.” This past Father's Day, Roy hopped on the back of a Harley-Davidson and went for a wonderful ride with his son, Robert. “My doctor told me to enjoy life,” Roy says. “And I do.” For more information, call the Heart Failure Clinic at St. Luke's Medical Center at 414-385-2657.
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