Dr Mark Kennedy
Western Hills Clinic
74 Western Hills Drive
Kensington
Whangarei 0112
www.healthpoint.co.nz
Dr Mark Kennedy - Private Internal Medicine Specialist
Postal Address
Contact Details
Phone (09) 435 4627, or if URGENT, Linda Clinical Nurse Specialist 021 689 447 outside of clinic hours
Mobile Emergency Phone (021) 702 395
Email admin@westernhillsclinic.co.nz
Healthlink EDI: west74hc
For any urgent Echocardiogram, Exercise Stress Echocardiogram or Exercise Tolerance Test, contact Clinical Nurse Specialist (Linda) on (09) 435 4627 on Tuesday and Thursday (or 021 689 447 outside those days). If she is unavailable and it is URGENT, call Mark Kennedy on (021) 702 395. We can undertake Transthoracic Echocardiograms most weekdays.
Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy
Patient information:
Heart failure refers to the heart failing to pump efficiently.
There are many diseases that cause this including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, viral infections, alcohol, and diseases affecting the valves of the heart. When the heart is inefficient a number of symptoms occur depending on the cause and severity of the condition. The main symptoms are tiredness, breathlessness on exertion or lying flat, and ankle swelling. Doctors often refer to oedema, which means fluid retention, usually in your feet or lungs, as a result of the heart not pumping efficiently.
Tests looking for possible causes of heart failure include:
- Chest X-ray
- Blood tests to rule out iron overload (haemochromatosis)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Echocardiogram (Cardiac ultrasound or Echo)
- Coronary Angiogram
Treatment
You are likely to have several medications over time; these include medication to control the amount of fluid that builds up (diuretics), medication to protect your heart and slow it down as well as to thin your blood. You will be given advice about restricting the amount of sodium (salt) you take, as this can contribute to fluid retention and worsening symptoms. You can also be involved in cardiac rehabilitation programmes run by the cardiac nurses. You will be given reading material to learn more about your disease.
https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/private/internal-medicine/dr-mark-kennedy-private-internal-medicine/