Heart Wellness Store » arrhythmias

Heart Transplant Experience

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:03:00 +0000

It was slightly more than a year ago when, Lauren Mahoney received a second chance at life.

She was diagnosed in 1999 with heart disease: a cardiomyopathy, heart muscle disease in layman s terms and is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium (i.e., the actual heart muscle), bringing about dangerous arrhythmias.

When this happens, the heart beat may be too fast or too slow and it may be regular or irregular.

For ten years she lived with a deteriorating heart struggling with sleeping, walking and even eating.

In May of 2008, Lauren was referred to the Massachusetts Brigham and Women s Hospital where her condition was evaluated and they advised her that she qualified to join the heart transplant list. However, she wasn t immediately ready to add her name to that list.

She spent the summer trying to live a normal life, but found every day was a struggle. Eventually in her own time, she came to the conclusion that this was no way to live her life and she put her name down on the transplant list.

In February 2009, she wasn t feeling at all well and went back to the hospital and so began a stay of 3 months in hospital, waiting for a new heart. May 21, her cardiologist walked into her room and said: How about a new heart? Apparently with no drama; he said just that!. Well, Lauren knew this was it, and by then, was so ready for it.

She received her new heart at 2 a.m. on May 22, 2009.

The operation was a success. Recovering was tough at first, but as each day passed life became easier thanks to the great support she received from all those around her. Two weeks later, Lauren was discharged and able to return home somewhat worried at going back into the outside world saying goodbye to the continual hospital monitoring and constant care.

Now, Lauren is living healthy life of a 27-year-old, walking three miles a day, bike riding, going out with friends; simply living in a way that she previously could only dream about. She had forgotten what it was like to feel healthy and now she has the chance to do so again.

Through the AHA, Lauren participates fund raising in honor of her donor. Whoever the person is, he or she will always be a part of her. Lauren has also been walking to raise money for Brigham and Women s Hospital to thank them for the support that they gave her. The Shapiro Center does wonderful work and it is Lauren s desire to help other people finding themselves in the position of having heart disease.

Other Posts Online:

Do Hearts Store Memories? Heart Transplant Recipient Develops …

David Waters received the heart from Kaden Delaney (top right). He now craves Burger Rings – one of Kaden’s favorite snacks. A heart transplant patient is….

Beaumont teen dies waiting on heart transplant

According to the Facebook page maintained by his parents, Austin was placed on the heart transplant waiting list for a second time Jan. 30, 2009. To celebrate the life of the "inspirational" teen and to help his family with medical and …

Heart Transplant Recipient Meets Donor’s Mother For First Time

Jack Eigle, recipient of a heart transplant, met his donor’s mother for the first….

Jim McLean: Erik Compton Phenomenon

After his first heart transplant at 12 years old, Erik weighed 240 lbs. at 5’5 and was not in good shape. He was on heavy doses of steroids as part of his recovery and could only make half swings for about 1 year. …

Fortis performs heart transplant without surgrey in india …

In a milestone surgery, doctors at Fortis Malar Hospital successfully performed a heart transplant – a first for a Fortis Hospital in India. The team….

Heart transplant recipient leads PGA event

White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. — Erik Compton, twice the recipient of a new heart, shot the lowest round of his PGA Tour career Thursday to share …

Cheney may not opt for heart transplant

Cheney may not be a good candidate for a heart transplant, primarily because of his age. The scarcity of available hearts means that surgeons typically prefer to reserve them for younger patients with longer expected life spans. …

Risk Factors for Congestive Heart Disease

admin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Congestive heart disease

Congestive heart disease affects about five million Americans, and several medical professionals believe that within five years time about half of those people will unfortunately die from their state. Congestive heart disease is marked by the heart s inability to pump efficiently enough to supply the body with freshly oxygenated blood. It is the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens and accounted for nearly 20% of the hospitalization of this age group in 2003.

Since congestive heart disease is a state that warrants consideration, a brief conversation of several of the risk factors might be in order.There are going to be many times in your lives where something happens and a lot of the factors were those that could not be helped, but there is a boat load of things someone could change about there life in order to lower any risk you may have.

Risk Factors That Cannot be Helped

There are a number of risk factors for congestive heart disease that simply can t be helped. One such factor is a prior heart attack, and age, specifically over the age of 65, is another common factor for this state. Also, there is another important one too and it is a history of diabetes.There is a distinct possibility that congestive heart disease might be one of the few medical conditions that although it is extremely treatable the distance the disease hase gone already cannot be reversed.

Another risk factor that cannot be changed when dealing with congestive heart disease is having a genetic disposition to the disease.Congestive heart disease is something that should be a concern for you if you have a family history of it, or you have Genetic testing done and something comes back postive, Genetic testing will be a sure way for the doctor whether you have congestive heart disease or not.

Risk Factors the Can Be Changed

While some factors that signify the potential for congestive heart disease cannot be helped, there are a number that can. These factors consist of such things as continuing high blood pressure, drug or alcohol abuse, thyroid disease, and even heart valve disease. All these risk factors, especially drug and alcohol abuse can be managed with help from your medical professional or friendly neighborhood physician. The best course of action is talk to your doctor to design a plan to attack congestive heart disease and hopefully stop it from touching your life.

Unfortunately, congestive heart disease is hard to diagnose because it frequently occurs as a result of or in conjunction with other forms of heart disease. Perhaps the best hope for patients with this disease is to catch it early and begin treatment as soon as possible.

Published By Heart Wellness Store

Other Related Posts:

Diastolic Heart Failure

Over the past decade there has been an increasing awareness of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction as a mechanism of congestive heart failure, and it appears that more than 30-40 % of all heart failure patients have dominantly …

Study Finds Link Between Depression And Heart Failure

Live, local, late breaking news, weather and sports for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee. Get Myrtle Beach and Florence-area news, weather, sports and community information and more.

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure, a condition caused by a malfunctioning heart that is unable to pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the body’s needs, is an increasingly important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Large Waist ay Boost Heart Failure Risk

The most news and entertainment portal from a Canadian perspective. Television, major newspapers across Canada, health, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, free email and more.

Understand Congestive Heart Failure

When the physician listens to or auscultates the heart, murmurs, extra heart sounds, or arrhythmias may be present, which indicate a particular underlying cause of congestive heart failure. Auscultation of the lungs may reveal …

Know About Congestive Cardiac Failure

These days, the term “heart failure” is more commonly used than “congestive heart failure,” because of the fact that not all patients suffer from volume overload at the moment of evaluation.

Nursing Care Plans for Congestive Heart Failure

The fundamental mechanism of heart failure including the nature of the damage contractile from the heart, leading to less pump sufficient blood from the normal heart. General conditions that underlie including atherosclerosis, …

Heart Wellness Store » arrhythmias

Heart Transplant Experience

Related Blogs

Risk Factors for Congestive Heart Disease

Related Blogs

Related Blogs