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What is Heart Failure?

Definition

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, occurs when your heart isn’t pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs. As a result, fluid may build up in the legs, lungs, and in other tissues throughout the body.

Causes

Heart failure can occur for several reasons. Common causes of heart failure include:

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Previous heart attack (myocardial infarction)
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Valve disease
  • Congenital heart disease (condition you are born with)
  • Cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart)
  • Endocarditis
  • Myocarditis (infection of the heart)
  • Diabetes

Symptoms

Heart failure symptoms aren't always obvious. Some people in the very early stages of heart failure may have no symptoms at all. Others may dismiss symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath as signs of growing older.

Sometimes, however, heart failure symptoms are more obvious. Because of the heart's inability to efficiently pump blood and supply your organs (such as the kidneys and the brain), you may experience a number of symptoms, including:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling of the feet and legs
  • Lack of energy, feeling tired
  • Difficulty sleeping at night due to breathing problems
  • Swollen or tender abdomen, loss of appetite
  • Cough with "frothy" mucus or phlegm
  • Increased urination at night
  • Confusion
  • Impaired memory

Risk Factors

Some people are more likely than others to develop heart failure. No one can predict for certain who will develop it. Being aware of the risk factors and seeing a doctor for early treatment are good strategies for managing heart failure. Heart failure risk factors include:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
  • Abnormal heart valves
  • Enlargement of the heart (cardiomyopathy)
  • Family history of heart disease
  • Diabetes

Diagnosis

Only your doctor can tell if you have heart failure and how far the condition has progressed. Your doctor will review your medical history, including past and present illnesses, family history, and lifestyle. As part of your physical examination, your doctor will check your heart, lungs, abdomen, and legs to see if signs of heart failure are present.

To rule out or confirm the diagnosis of heart failure, your doctor may order one or several of these diagnostic tests:

  • Echocardiogram
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Chest x-ray
  • Exercise test (stress test)
  • Cardiac catheterization

If you have heart failure, your doctor may also track your ejection fraction over time. Ejection fraction is the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart during each beat. It's a key indicator of your heart's health and doctors frequently use it to determine how well your heart is functioning as a pump.

Treatment Options

CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY

In some people with heart failure, the lower chambers of the heart don't beat at the same time, forcing the heart to work harder. These people may benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), which is an implantable heart device, like a pacemaker.

CRT is a clinically proven treatment option for some individuals with heart failure. It sends small electrical impulses to both lower chambers of the heart to help them beat together in a more synchronized pattern. This may improve the heart’s ability to pump blood and oxygen to your body.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as quit smoking, limiting your sodium intake, losing weight, or reducing your stress level. These changes can help relieve some of the symptoms associated with heart failure and reduce strain on your heart.

HEART MEDICATIONS

Many kinds of medications are used for treating heart failure. Your doctor may prescribe ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, blood thinners, and diuretics, among others. In general, a combination of heart medications is typically used.

HEART SURGERY

If your heart failure is caused or made worse by a weak valve, your doctor may consider heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. If your heart failure is serious and irreversible, heart transplant surgery may be considered.

Talk to your doctor about which treatment options are right for you.

 

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.