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Every practice that cares for heart failure patients should incorporate palliative care. It is a prescription for the most appropriate intervention for these patients and can make the life patients have left to live as productive and comfortable as possible. As providers, we can prescribe palliative care as optimistically and as passionately as we prescribe LVADs, knowing that we are offering life-affirming coaching, attention and support. We can begin to see the possibility of a good death, defined as living fully whatever life is left. We can acknowledge that death is inevitable for us all, but that we can continue to live within that acknowledgement.
Women succumb to heart disease more than all other diseases combined. We are making strides in providing excellent medical and therapeutic strategies. But what can we offer patients to improve their quality of life as well as heighten awareness? At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the Women’s Heart Center primarily sees chest pain patients who are seeking second, third or fourth opinions. Many of these women suffer from ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarctions (MI) with open arteries. When we initially see them, they typically are symptomatic and have decreased satisfaction with their quality of life. We provide advanced diagnostic testing, such as adenosine magnetic resonance imaging and coronary reactivity testing, which allows us to tailor their medication regimen and provide relief of their symptoms. Under the direction of Noel Bairey Merz, M.D., F.A.C.C., director of the women want and need more. Since 2006, we have answered their call for more support by referring patients to WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, the nation’s only patient a patient support group in their area, and can find support in an online community and Sister Match program. We encourage women to apply for the annual WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic Many women seen at the Women’s Heart Center have careers and small children at home and are trying to understand why heart disease happened to them — all while trying to care for themselves and their families. Health care providers are constantly looking for new resources for their patients.