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Ruth Sanders

Congestive heart failure patient back on track

When Ruth Sanders, 75, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure six years ago, it didn’t stop her from exercising.

She and a group of friends make exercising a part of their daily routine.

"We're all in our 70s, and we are on the track by 4 a.m. every day," said Sanders who has 12 children; 24 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

When Sanders learned of her diagnosis, she was in disbelief because she had been exercising for 10 years, but admits that her diet wasn’t the best. She said when she would finish her shift at Shands Jacksonville, where she worked as a dietary aid for 20 years, she would head straight to the track.

"I'd leave at 2:30 p.m. and I'd walk to the track at Eugene Butler School," she said. "We would also walk on Saturdays and Sundays after church."

The warning signs

Her first symptom of congestive heart failure was shortness of breath while walking on the track one day.

"I had one of my walking partners take me home, then I had my son call rescue," said Sanders. "I went through the ED and they kept me overnight," said Sanders.

During her follow up appointment, Sanders was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood to other organs in the body. This results in shortness of breath, possible fluid retention and weight gain, swelling of feet, coughing, and difficulty sleeping flat in bed. The leading causes of congestive heart failure are coronary artery disease and hypertension.

The treatment plan

Alan Miller, MD, a University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville professor of medicine and cardiologist at Shands Jacksonville, initially treated Sanders with standard therapy, including beta blockers and a drug called angiotensin converting enzyme, also known as ACE inhibitors. In 2006, he made the decision to give Sanders an implantable cardioverter defibrillator to prevent sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation, a specific arrhythmia common in patients with heart failure. The device produces a jolt of electricity to reset the heart rate, this is called defibrillation.

Miller said Sanders’ heart failure was likely due to high blood pressure. He also said that the older a patient is, the more likely he or she is to develop the condition. Heart failure is a condition that doesn’t discriminate, therefore men and women should know the signs and symptoms. There are 5 million Americans living with this condition.

David Nabert, MD, a UF assistant professor of medicine, put in Sanders’ defibrillator. He said this procedure is performed on a number of patients at Shands Jacksonville and has proven results.

"Everyone who has one is going to live longer because it keeps the heart beating at the proper rhythm," said Nabert.

The end result

Sanders said that since she’s been under Miller’s care, she has been able to successfully manage her hypertension. She modified her diet by cutting out fried foods, reduced her sodium intake, added more vegetables and replaced carbonated drinks with water. She also continues her exercise regime and takes prescribed medications as directed.

"I eat a lot better than I used to," said Sanders. "I've gone from weighing 190 to 160 pounds."

Sanders said enjoys coming to Shands Jacksonville for routine checkups with Miller. In fact, she said she looks forward to seeing him.

"I think he's a great doctor," said Sanders. "He's fair, honest and tells you exactly what he thinks is wrong with you. He’s very, very concerned about his patients, and I like that about him, I really do."

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