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Brigham and Women's Hospital

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Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a top Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals. Our innovations in virtually every area of clinical care, along with our history of breakthrough discoveries and medical firsts, have improved the health of people around the world.

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  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is an ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart?
    An ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scan is a procedure used to diagnose heart disease. Ultrafast CT, or electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT), can take multiple images of the heart within the time of a single heartbeat, thus providing much more detail about the heart's function and...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    Why are diuretics used to treat heart failure?
    When you take diuretics, or water pills, you urinate more frequently. Diuretics help your kidneys remove salt and water from your bloodstream and decrease the water in your body. Three good things happen when you lower extra water in your body if you have heart failure:
    • It makes your br
    ...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What happens before an ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scan?
    An ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scan is a procedure used to diagnose heart disease. Before the procedure:
    • Your physician or the technician will explain the procedure to you and offer you the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have about the procedure.
    • Generally, no prior
    ...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What happens during an ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scan?
    An ultrafast computed tomography (CT), a procedure used to diagnose heart disease, may be performed on an outpatient basis or as part of your stay in a hospital. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your physician's practices.

    Generally, an ultrafast CT follows this process:...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    How much should I exercise if I have heart failure?
    The goal for most people with heart failure is to do 30 minutes of exercise each day. Remember to start slowly. Start by exercising 5 to 10 minutes a day. Increase the time of your exercise until you reach 30 minutes a day. When you have finished exercising, you should feel like you could...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What are ACE inhibitors?
    Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors help to prevent weakening and scarring of the heart, and may also protect your kidneys and blood vessels. These medications "vasodilate" or relax your blood vessels and may lower your blood pressure.
    • Your heart does not have to work as hard
    ...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    How do I reduce sodium in my diet if I have heart failure?
    When you eat sodium or salt, your body holds on to water, which can make your heart failure worse. Eating low sodium (low salt) food can make you feel better. A low sodium diet means eating between 2,000 and 3,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day. Ask your doctor or nurse what is right for...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    How can I limit the fluids I drink if I have heart failure?
    If you have heart failure, your doctor or nurse may want you to measure all of the fluids that you drink including anything that becomes liquid at room temperature. If it melts, like ice cream, it is a liquid. Ask your doctor or nurse what your fluid limit is.

    Things you can do if you need...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)?
    Some patients with heart failure have dangerously fast heartbeats called "ventricular tachycardia" or "ventricular fibrillation." This fast heartbeat can cause serious symptoms such as fainting or even death. An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) is like a pacemaker that can be...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What type of exercise can I do if I have heart failure?
    Great ways to exercise if you have heart failure are:
    • Walking
    Take a friend with you for company.
    During bad weather try walking at a mall.
    • Biking
    Try a stationary bike.
    • Swimming
    Join water aerobics at a health club or your community pool.

    In the beginning, you may feel anxious about...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    How do I keep track of my weight if I have heart failure?
    If you have heart failure, weigh yourself every morning and write it down. Weight gain may signal that your body is holding on to water. This means your heart failure is getting worse.

    Things you can do:
    • Weigh yourself every morning at the same time.
    • Write your weight on a calendar or chart.
    ...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is cardiac resynchronization therapy?
    A normal heart sends electrical signals to both lower chambers or "ventricles" of the heart to make them pump at the same time. Sometimes in heart failure patients, the two chambers do not pump together. A special pacemaker called Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is a small batte...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is abdominal aortic aneurysm repair?
    Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is a procedure used to treat an aneurysm (abnormal enlargement) of the abdominal aorta. Repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm may be performed surgically through an open incision or in a minimally invasive procedure called endovascular aneurysm repair...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
    An abdominal aortic aneurysm, also called AAA or triple A, is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of the aorta (the largest artery in the body) resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning greater than 50 percent of the normal diameter (width).

    The aorta extends upward from the top of...  Full Post
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    What is a ventricular assist device (VAD)?
    A Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) is a mechanical pump inserted into your body to improve blood flow. If you have severe heart failure, your heart is unable to pump enough blood to your body's organs and tissues, and a VAD may be needed. You will need open heart surgery to implant the mec...  Full Post