Heart & Health Bulletin — Edition from July 1 to 31, 2026

Dear families,

Living with heart failure requires attention, patience, and regular communication with your healthcare team. This letter is designed to help you better understand cardiovascular diseases, current treatments, and research published during July 2026.

It does not replace the advice of a cardiologist: any change in treatment, even in the event of improvement of symptoms, must be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Better understanding of heart failure

Heart failure means that the heart no longer pumps blood as efficiently as it should. It is not a cardiac arrest: it is a chronic condition that can be stabilized with appropriate monitoring.

The most common symptoms are:

• unusual shortness of breath, at rest or during exertion; ;
• persistent fatigue; ;
• swelling of the ankles, legs or abdomen; ;
• rapid weight gain due to water retention; ;
• needing to sleep with several pillows or waking up at night due to lack of air; ;
• palpitations, dizziness or feeling unwell.

Rapidly worsening shortness of breath, intense chest pain, dizziness or loss of consciousness should prompt immediate contact with emergency services.

Treatments: a personalized approach

Treatment aims to reduce symptoms, prevent hospitalizations, and protect the heart in the long term. It depends on factors such as the cause of heart failure, the heart's ejection fraction, blood pressure, kidney function, and other associated conditions.

Treatments may include:

• Diuretics: they help the body eliminate excess water and salt, which reduces swelling and shortness of breath.
• Heart-protecting medications: depending on the situation, the cardiologist may prescribe beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors.
• Treatment of associated causes: hypertension, coronary artery disease, rhythm disorders, diabetes, kidney disease or heart valve disease.
• Cardiac devices: In some people, a pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy may be offered.
• Cardiovascular rehabilitation: it combines supervised physical activity, nutritional advice, psychological support and therapeutic education.

The best treatment is one taken regularly and adjusted gradually with the medical team. Always report any side effects: excessive fatigue, dizziness, low blood pressure, cramps, diarrhea, or significant weight changes.

What loved ones can monitor on a daily basis

Simple home monitoring can help identify a breakdown before it becomes an emergency.

Every day, if recommended by the healthcare team:

1. Weigh the person in the morning, after going to the toilet and before breakfast.
2. Note any shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue, and appetite.
3. Check that the medications are taken as prescribed.
4. Follow the individual guidelines regarding salt and drinks.
5. Keep the contact details of the primary care physician, cardiologist, and emergency department readily available.

Rapid weight gain, for example, about 2 kg in a few days, should be reported to the person's healthcare professional. The thresholds may vary: prioritize following the action plan established by the cardiologist.

Research and news from July 2026

During July, cardiology publications continued to explore the role of digital tools in monitoring heart failure. Several studies focused on using remote monitoring—weight, blood pressure, symptoms, heart rate, and alerts—to detect signs of decompensation earlier and avoid some hospitalizations.

These technologies are promising, but they don't replace consultations or listening to symptoms. An app or connected device is only useful if it's integrated into a clear care pathway, with a team capable of interpreting the data and responding to alerts.

The research also continued to evaluate treatments targeting certain cardiomyopathies, including:

• transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, a disease where abnormal deposits progressively stiffen the heart; ;
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, characterized by a thickening of the heart muscle.

These studies are important, but a research result does not automatically mean that a treatment is already available or appropriate for everyone. Access depends on authorizations, medical recommendations, and each patient's profile.

Taking care of the heart, without guilt

Lifestyle habits do not replace medication, but they effectively complement it:

• favour a simple, varied and low-salt diet; ;
• avoid self-medication, especially certain anti-inflammatories which can worsen water retention; ;
• maintain an activity adapted to the person's abilities, with the agreement of the doctor; ;
• quitting smoking with support if necessary; ;
• maintain recommended vaccinations; ;
• do not interrupt treatment because you feel better.

Heart failure is often a disease characterized by periods of stability and periods of greater fragility. Every little bit of monitoring counts, and loved ones play a valuable role: observing, reassuring, supporting — without bearing the entire responsibility alone.

Sources — publications and resources available as of July 2026

• ESC Heart Failure : research publications published in July 2026, including work on digital monitoring, hospitalizations and mortality in heart failure.
  ESC Heart Failure — Wiley Online Library
• European Heart Journal – Case Reports, July 24, 2026: clinical publication dedicated to fulminant myocarditis.
  European Heart Journal – Case Reports
• European Society of Cardiology (ESC): information on advances concerning cardiomyopathies, including transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  European Society of Cardiology
• General information on heart failure and patient education:
  French Federation of Cardiology