Isabel, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an electrical engineer, was leading a normal life and had a promising future in her career. Unexpectedly, at 33 years old, she was diagnosed with heart failure. This disease has put a halt in almost all aspects of Isabel’s normal life, including her career.
Eager to pursue a meaningful career in healthcare, I graduated from Queen’s University as one of the few female engineers at the time. I went on to obtain a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in biomedical engineering. Throughout the course of my education and career, I developed a passion for advancing patient care – the work I do is important to me.
Isabel’s Tips for Medication and Symptoms Self-Management Isabel lived with heart failure for 11 years before having a heart transplant in 2021. Self-care and self-management continue to be essential to her health. Isabel offers the following tips for people...
New! Printable Fluid Restriction Booklet Fluid Restriction Fluid Accumulation Normally, our bodies eliminate extra fluid by excreting it as urine. People with heart failure can lose the ability to expel extra fluid. The heart must then work harder to pump the excess...
New! Printable Potassium Booklet Potassium Intake Potassium is a mineral that has many important roles within your body, including regulating your heartbeat and blood pressure. Maintaining a normal potassium balance is important, as high, or low potassium levels in...
New! Printable Sodium Booklet Sodium Restriction Sodium causes extra fluid to build up in your body, making your heart work harder. This extra fluid can also accumulate in your legs and ankles, as well as in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe. What is sodium? ...
Working with Heart Failure Working contributes not only to our financial well-being but to personal and professional fulfillment. Your ability to work may be disrupted by the impacts of your heart function. Whether or not you are able to return to work depends on...
Chemotherapy drugs can have an impact on your heart. Anthracyclines are one class of chemotherapy medications that can damage the cell structures and DNA inside the heart muscle, leading to decreased heart function.
The immune system works by recognizing foreign ‘outsider’ cells and boosting the body’s defense system (antibodies) to attack them, preventing damage to the body. Immune responses attack any foreign invader, such as bacteria, viruses, or cancer cells. The immune system can also produce cytokines, which are substances that act as messengers; cytokines tell the body’s cells to attack foreign cells.
