Heart Failure -- Contents -- About the Author -- Preface -- Part I Introduction -- 1 Definitions -- Introduction -- Historical Outline -- Definitions -- Terminology -- Grading of Heart Failure -- 2 Epidemiology -- Overview -- Prevalence -- Incidence -- Subgroup Differences -- Future Trends -- 3 Causes -- Overview -- Ischaemic Heart Disease -- Hypertension -- Valve Disease -- Arrhythmias -- Infection -- Alcohol -- Diabetes -- Genetic Heart Failure -- Other Rare Rauses of Heart Failure -- Iatrogenic Heart Failure -- 4 Outcomes -- Prognosis -- Mortality -- Morbidity -- Quality of Life -- Health Economics -- 5 Physiology -- The Normal Heart -- The Failing Heart -- Part II Diagnosis and Assessment -- 6 Clinical Assessment -- Role of Clinical Assessment -- Assessment Skills -- Presenting Complaint -- Past Medical History -- Lifestyle Review (Social History) -- Medication Review -- Symptoms of Heart Failure -- Signs of Heart Failure -- Signs of Structural Change -- Systemic Signs -- Assessment Tools and Competency -- 7 Investigations -- Use of Investigations -- Investigations for Diagnosis -- Investigations for Follow-up -- Heart Failure Screening -- Electrocardiogram (ECG) -- Echocardiogram -- Chest X-ray (CXR) -- Blood Tests -- Cardiac Catheterisation -- Impedance Cardiography (ICG) -- Nuclear Imaging -- Part III Treatment -- 8 Treatment Essentials -- Education -- Information -- Lifestyle -- 9 Exercise Training -- Background -- Exercise Physiology -- Rationale for Exercise Training -- Evidence Base -- Safety -- Types of Exercise Training -- Service Delivery -- 10 Medicines -- Overview -- Guidelines -- Treatment Principles -- Elderly Patients -- Asymptomatic Patients -- Nursing Role -- Diuretics -- ACE-inhibitors -- Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (A2RB) -- Beta-blockers -- Aldosterone Antagonists -- Digoxin -- Nitrates -- Other Vasodilators -- Oxygen.

Inotropes -- Anti-arrhythmic drugs -- Opioids -- Drugs to Avoid -- 11 Invasive Treatments -- Role of Invasive Treatments -- Cardiac Surgery -- Devices -- Emerging Technologies -- 12 End-Stage Heart Failure -- Defining 'End-Stage' Heart Failure -- The Dying Heart -- Symptoms -- Resuscitation Issues -- Psychological and Spiritual Dimension -- Family and Carers -- Specialist Palliative Care -- Service Issues -- Part IV Policy and Service Issues -- 13 Policy Framework -- Historical Perspective -- National Service Frameworks -- Professional Guidelines Specific to Heart Failure -- Primary and Secondary Care -- Future Developments -- 14 Service Issues -- Heart Failure Services -- Funding -- Key Partners -- Patient Participation -- Identifying Patients -- Referrals -- Service Effectiveness -- Heart Failure: Clinical Trials Index -- Glossary and Abbreviations -- References -- Index.