James Allan Olson thought what was happening to his body was natural, the results of aging.  He was in his 70s, weighed 275 pounds, was diabetic, had high blood pressure, sleep apnea, edema (swelling) in his legs, was feeling tired all the time and often short of breath.

“A lot of people think their health problems are a natural occurrence. That’s what I felt until I got to the emergency room,” said the Quincy resident and Army veteran.

James went to the Blessing Hospital Emergency Center at the urging of a friend he took to a doctor appointment. They had parked the car and were walking toward the office building, but James couldn’t keep up.

“I had to stop two times before getting to the building to catch my breath,” James said. “My friend said I should go see a doctor about that. I did.”

James’ primary care doctor sent him to Blessing where tests indicated he had congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF), also called heart failure, is a serious condition in which the heart doesn't pump blood as efficiently as it should. There are many causes of heart failure but no cure.

“They put me on oxygen and told me I would be using it for the rest of my life,” James said of his hospital visit. He was also referred to the Blessing Heart Failure Clinic.

Blessing is ranked a “High Performing Hospital” in US News & World Report’s 2021-22 national healthcare rankings. Cardiologist Dr. John Hammock and nurse practitioner Shanna Dierker provide care at the Blessing Heart Failure Clinic.

Patients of the clinic receive a scale, blood pressure cuff and education booklet. They learn the role of diet and exercise in heart failure management, how to monitor symptoms, what complications to watch for and how to respond to them.

James takes control of his health

Determined to live and to enjoy a better quality of life, James took action. In addition to guidance from the clinic, he used additional knowledge gained from watching YouTube videos to manage his condition. James cut most of the salt from his diet by becoming an expert food label reader, closely monitored the amount of fluid he consumed each day and developed a regular and vigorous exercise program.

As a result of his work, James has lost more than 50 pounds to date and does not need supplemental oxygen.

“He was very eager to learn about what he could do to improve his condition and manage his heart failure,” said Shanna. “James has improved his quality of life as well as his longevity.”

“I feel very good,” he said. “I am still 72 years old, overweight and have health problems, but I feel 100 percent better that I did back at the end of July 2021 when I began addressing my health issues.”

“Through active management, education, monitoring and proper medications, my hope is for this type of positive result for all of our patients,” Shanna added.

 “I know I will have CHF for the rest of my life, but I can control it,” he continued. “It’s a question of accepting your own, personal responsibility. I can’t say it for everyone, but for most of us, it isn’t that hard to make lifestyle changes.”

“I like to be able to walk out to my mailbox and back without panting,” James concluded.

For more information on the care provided by the Blessing Heart Failure Clinic, click here.