DENVER, Colo. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Approximately 6.5 million Americans suffer from some form of heart failure. 960,000 new patients will be diagnosed with the disease this year. Medicines help many people, but when that is not possible, the only option is a heart transplant. But now a new device is breathing life into the failing mind.

One in 20 adults has heart disease. One person dies every 33 seconds. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

“If the heart muscle is weak, death can occur from progressive heart muscle dysfunction or sudden death,” says Richard Jantz, M.D., a cardiologist at Aurora Denver Cardiology Associates.

Treatments include medications, stents, bypass surgery, and pacemakers. But now there’s a new way to keep your heart beating.

“Barostim is a new approach to modulating the autonomic nervous system,” says Dr. Janz.

Dr. Jantz implants the Barostim device just under the skin in conjunction with heart failure medications.

“It tends to stimulate the carotid sinuses and regulate adrenaline levels and vagal tone,” explains Dr. Jantz.

Baroreceptors are responsible for telling the nervous system how to regulate the function of the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. By activating the proper regulation of these functions, the load on the heart is reduced and its pumping ability is increased more effectively.

“It improves quality of life and functional capacity, reduces the risk of hospitalization, but also increases the likelihood of not needing a heart transplant or ventricular assist device,” Dr. Janz further explains.

That was the only thing that helped Eric Berkowitz.

“Now that we have this device, I can walk a two-mile track with him and not be out of breath. He pants more than I do,” says Eric.

Barostim helps Eric and his dog Bobo keep walking.

Barostim surgery is an outpatient procedure and is FDA approved. New research is currently being conducted to implant wires without making an incision.

Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, producer. Matt Goldschmidt, videographer. Sharon Dennis, editor.

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