Duke cardiologist Joseph Rogers, MD, and colleagues are defining the best strategies to help heart failure patients.

Heart failure is fairly common, isn't it? 

Joseph Rogers, MD Nearly six million Americans are living with heart failure -- when the heart can't adequately do its job of pumping blood through the body.

Patients with heart failure tend to be very limited in their physical abilities, and as the disease progresses, breathlessness and fatigue can occur even at rest.

The good news is that we’ve seen dramatic improvements in the treatment of heart failure in the past decade.

Duke Heart Center is a national leader in heart failure management. Why is that?

At Duke we have the critical components of a top-tier program: outstanding doctors, a team approach, close collaboration with our colleagues in heart surgery and heart rhythm disorders, a dedication to advancing our knowledge of heart failure through research, and a passion for understanding and treating the unique aspects of each patient’s disease.

Also, Duke is one of the vanguard centers of the Heart Failure Research Network, a consortium of institutions providing insights into new treatments for heart failure.

What's your advice in regard to preventing heart disease and heart failure?

Do everything in your power to reduce your risk -- this is much easier than living with the disease.

Our recommendations have not changed for years: eat well, exercise, maintain a normal body weight, don’t smoke, and treat conditions that are linked to heart disease like high blood pressure and diabetes.

If family members have heart disease, see a doctor who can help you reduce your risk of heart failure. If you already have the disease, be sure you feel confident that you have explored all treatment options and are being offered the most up-to-date therapies.