Learning to live with heart failure

Diagnosed with congestive heart failure following a heart attack six years ago, Don Bowering is grateful for the information he’s received at London Health Sciences Centre’s annual Heart Failure Awareness Event.

“Hearing all the information presented really brings together everything you need to know to help yourself,” he says.

Bowering attends the Cardiac Fitness Institute at LHSC’s Victoria Hospital three times per week where, through regular exercise and advice from a dietitian, he’s got his condition under control.

“It’s been pretty stable for a while now, which is good!”

Bowering joined others from the community at last year’s Heart Failure Awareness Event at LHSC’s University Hospital. This year the event will be held again on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at University Hospital, 3rd floor, auditorium A. The education seminar is part of an overall awareness week bringing attention to ways people can control heart failure.

“We want people to understand what heart failure is, and what they can do to help themselves,” says Dr. Malcom Arnold, cardiologist at LHSC. “Things like exercise, decreased salt consumption, and new therapies, medications and devices are all ways to help someone with the condition continue living a healthy and active lifestyle.”

The public education event will feature an interactive session including the following presenters:

• Dr. Peter Pflugfelder, cardiologist
• Dr. Neville Suskin, medical director, Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
• Jennifer-Anne Meneray, dietitian
  

From left, Dr. Malcom Arnold and Dr. Peter Pflugfelder, both cardiologists at London Health Sciences Centre, chat with patient Don Bowering before their presentations at last year’s Heart Failure Awareness Event.