Heart Failure - Basic Facts

Heart Failure

• When the heart is so weak that it can't handle a normal, healthy volume of blood, heart failure sets in.
• As blood travels from the lungs to the heart, it may back up. If fluid stays in the lungs, breathing becomes difficult. The build up of fluid is the reason for the term “congestive heart failure.”
• A heart that is “failing” has damaged or stretched muscle. The damage can impair the electrical system in the heart. If this happens, the heartbeat may be too fast, too slow, or unsteady.
• Heart rhythm problems are common in heart failure patients.

• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Tiredness, fatigue and a general "lack of energy"
• Chronic cough or wheezing
• Rapid or irregular heart beat
• Lack of appetite or nausea
• Mental confusion or impaired thinking
• Fluid retention, swelling

Healthy Choice
Living a "heart healthy" lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet low in sodium (salt) and not smoking is the best way to prevent heart failure.

Common Risk Factors

• Damage from a prior heart attack or clogged arteries
• High blood pressure
• Diseases of the heart muscle or valves
• Diabetes

Healthy Tip
Regular physical examinations are important, especially for those at high risk for heart failure. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop or reverse the progression of heart failure.

Diagnosis

• A physical examination, medical history, blood tests and heart tests are key to diagnosis.
• Tests can determine how severe the condition is and identify the best treatments.

• Medications
• Treatment of underlying causes, such as clogged arteries, heart valve disease, high blood pressure and arrhythmias
• Surgery to improve structural changes in the heart
• Implanted devices (pacemakers and defibrillators) to control abnormal heart rhythms that may result from heart failure
• Heart Transplant