Tag: change the name of heart failure

“Heart Failure: it’s time to finally change the F-word”: my Editorial in BMJ Open Heart

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 23 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas    ♥   @HeartSisters

I’m pleased to share with my Heart Sisters readers some terrific news:  the British Medical Journal (known everywhere as the BMJ) invited me early in 2023 to write an Editorial for BMJ Open Heart about an important cardiology issue that I’ve been lobbying, writing and speaking about over many years – and that Editorial has now been published.

I’m thrilled of course with this level of international interest.  (Note to my American readers: you’ll notice British spellings throughout e.g. organise, minimise, etc. Do not be alarmed. They’re not mistakes). Here’s the text content, FYI:   Continue reading ““Heart Failure: it’s time to finally change the F-word”: my Editorial in BMJ Open Heart” →

Chronic heart failure: the true heartache of living with “FAILURE”

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 10 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas     ♥    @HeartSisters 

 An Australian study published this month explores two elements that seem pretty darned important to patients and their families following a diagnosis of chronic heart failure (CHF) – yet may often appear to be minimized or even dismissed by healthcare professionals.  In this study, participants were asked to report their lived experience through two key themes:  1. Heartache and 2. Living with Failure.             .
Continue reading “Chronic heart failure: the true heartache of living with “FAILURE”” →

Heart FAILURE vs. heart FUNCTION

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 18 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ♥   @HeartSisters   

A number of cardiologists seem to be revisiting the warnings of their late colleague Dr. Bernard Lown, who often cautioned physicians against using “words that hurt“ – specifically, the name heart FAILURE * (what he termed “doom forecasting”).  Imagine being a patient hearing for the first time the words, “You have heart FAILURE.”  A terrifying – and worse, often inaccurate – name.  I’ve been told that changing the name of this condition would be impossible. But a recent editorial in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has suddenly offered a glimmer of hope. 

Continue reading “Heart FAILURE vs. heart FUNCTION” →

Is it finally time to change the name ‘heart FAILURE’?

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 36 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ♥   @HeartSisters

When McMaster University cardiologist Dr. Harriette Van Spall asked her Twitter followers recently to offer topic suggestions for the upcoming Heart Failure Summit, I responded with a suggestion of my own:

“Please please please can we STOP calling this condition heart FAILURE?”    .

Continue reading “Is it finally time to change the name ‘heart FAILURE’?” →