Heart Failure Program

Managing heart failure may feel extremely daunting, especially at first. Aiken’s dedicated team of healthcare professionals are prepared to provide comprehensive care to both manage and treat heart problems.

The joint Heart Failure Program at Aiken Regional Medical Centers and Carolina Heart and Vascular Center aims to provide medical care for those with heart disease. A heart failure specialist can help you improve your quality of life, while decreasing your risk of having a heart attack.

Heart failure treatment goes beyond simply treating the symptoms of heart failure. You and your physician will create an individualized plan to reduce risks of heart disease.

The team at Aiken takes a holistic approach to incorporate healthy diet, exercise and medical treatment to your existing care. This approach will help reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease by identifying risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Your doctor will also take a holistic approach by tackling any other underlying health problems.

Talk to your doctor today if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs or abdomen.
• Unusual shortness of breath during physical activity or rest.
• Inability to perform simple daily tasks, such as walking to the mailbox or grocery shopping, due to symptoms.
• Weight gain of two pounds overnight or five pounds in one week.

Heart disease can be intimidating; the team at Aiken Physicians Alliance is here to help!

Meet the Heart Failure Nurse Practitioner

Ashley Blalock, DNP, APRN, NP-C, CHFN​

Ashley is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner. She is certified in heart failure and treats patients with a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, heart disease or congestive heart failure. Ashley earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.

Ashley is also an active member of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses and the Heart Failure Society of America.