Also called: Also called: Cardiac failure, CHF, Left-sided heart failure, Right-sided heart failure
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood throughout the body. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way it should.
The weakening of the heart's pumping ability causes
- Blood and fluid to back up into the lungs
- The buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles and legs - called edema
- Tiredness and shortness of breath
The leading causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Treatment includes treating the underlying cause of your heart failure, medicines, and heart transplantation if other treatments fail.
Heart failure is a serious condition. About 5 million people in the U.S. have heart failure. It contributes to 300,000 deaths each year.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
-
Congestive Heart Failure(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/congestiveheartfailure/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/congestiveheartfailurespanish/htm/index.htm
- Heart Failure(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/heartfailure/toc.html
- Heart Failure(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hf/HF_WhatIs.html
- Heart Failure(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1486
- Heart Failure(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/heart-failure/DS00061/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
-
JAMA Patient Page: Heart Failure(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/297/22/2548.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/297/22/2548/DC1/1
- Learn More about Heart Failure(Heart Failure Society of America) - http://www.abouthf.org/
- Thumbs Down on Beta Blockers for High Blood Pressure(09/15/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69301.html
- Anemia Makes Heart Failure More Deadly(09/12/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69215.html
- Jolts from Heart Defibrillators Often Precede Death(09/04/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68885.html
- More News on Heart Failure http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_h.html#heartfailure
- BNP and NT-proBNP Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/bnp/test.html
- Cardiac Biomarkers(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cardiac_biomarkers/glance.html
- Cardiac MRI(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/mri/mri_whatis.html
- Chest X Ray(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cxray/cxray_whatis.html
-
Echocardiogram(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/echocardiogram/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/echocardiogramspanish/htm/index.htm
- Echocardiography(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/echo/echo_whatis.html
- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ekg/ekg_what.html
- Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=339
- Stress Testing(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/stress/stress_whatis.html
- Thoracentesis(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/thor/thor_whatis.html
-
ACE Inhibitors: Summary of Affordable Alternatives(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/ace-inhibitors.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/2pager_SpanishACEIs.pdf
-
Beta-Blockers: Summary of Affordable Alternatives(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/beta_blockers.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/2pager_SpanishBBs.pdf
- Biventricular Pacemaker: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for Heart Failure(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/biventricular-pacemaker/HB00084/METHOD=print
-
Digoxin: A Medicine for Heart Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/treatment/241.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/heartdisease/treatment/241.printerview.html
- Drug Interactions and Side Effects(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=117
- Heart Transplant: A Treatment for End-Stage Heart Failure(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/heart-transplant/HB00045/METHOD=print
- Medications Commonly Used to Treat Heart Failure(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=118
- Surgery and Other Medical Procedures(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=123
- Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/treatments/medicaldevices/vad.html
-
MedlinePlus: Heart Diseases--Prevention(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartdiseasesprevention.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/heartdiseasesprevention.html
- Heart Failure: Diet(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1444
- How Can I Live with Heart Failure?(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1196285111386LiveHeartFailure.pdf
- Caregiver's Guide to Heart Failure(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1412
- Devices That Keep the Heart Beating(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/features/cardiacdevices013008.html
- Home Oxygen Therapy(American Association for Respiratory Care) - http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/living/home_oxygen_therapy/
- Lifestyle and Exercise(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1543
- Taking Medications Correctly(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=116
- Working with Your Doctor(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1609
- Can Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Take Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs?(American Heart Association) - http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/117/17/e322
- Congestive Heart Failure: How to Stay Well and Out of the Hospital(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/recovery/671.printerview.html
- Flu Shots: Important If You Have Heart Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/flu-shots/HB00086/METHOD=print
- Heart Failure: Risk Factors(Heart Rhythm Society) - http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/heart_disorders/heart_failure/risk_factors.asp
- Sex and Heart Failure(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=359
-
Congestive Heart Failure(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/congestiveheartfailure/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/congestiveheartfailurespanish/htm/index.htm
-
Echocardiogram(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/echocardiogram/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/echocardiogramspanish/htm/index.htm
- Heart Failure(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/heartfailure/toc.html
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for Heart Failure(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 3/07/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=417
- Repair of Mitral Valve Regurgitation with an Annuloplasty Ring(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 6/28/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=316
- Surgical Ventricular Reconstruction(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 2/13/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/mom_1872/rnh.cfm?id=694
-
Heart Anatomy(Texas Heart Institute) - http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Anatomy/anatomy2.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Anatomy_Esp/anato_sp.cfm
- How the Heart Works(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hhw/hhw_whatis.html
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Cardiac Output, Low(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cardiac+Output,+Low%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Heart Failure(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Heart+Failure%22
- Exercise Plus Psychological Counseling May Benefit Depressed Heart Failure Patients(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=406
- Heart Failure News(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3047477
- Heart Failure Patients May Suffer Similarly to Advanced Cancer Patients(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=408
- Patch May Prevent Heart Failure after Heart Attack(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=478
- Remote Monitoring Improves Heart Failure Patients' Health, May Reduce Hospital Readmissions(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=405
- Use of Proven Heart Failure Therapy Not Standardized in U.S. Hospitals(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=492
- Article: Quality of life with defibrillator therapy or amiodarone in heart... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18768943&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: New CRT technology boosts care for heart failure patients. Cardiac... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18763364&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Anemia and mortality in heart failure patients a systematic review... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18755344&tool=MedlinePlus
- Heart Failure -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=heart+failure[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(clinical+trial[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+AND+(jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cardiac Glossary(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3038158
-
Cardiovascular Glossary(Texas Heart Institute) - http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Gloss/
Also available in Spanish http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Gloss_Esp/Glossary_sp.cfm
- Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD) Destination Therapy Facilities(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/VAD/list.asp
- American Heart Association - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
- Heart Rhythm Society - http://www.hrspatients.org/
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
-
Heart Failure Fact Sheet(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/library/fs_heart_failure.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/library/fs_heart_failure_spanish.htm
- Heart Failure in Children and Adolescents(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3016405
- Heart Failure(Cardiovascular Research Foundation) - http://www.hearthealthywomen.org/index.php?view=article&id=76&Itemid=1&option=com_content
- Heart Transplantation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hearttransplantation.html
- Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pacemakersandimplantabledefibrillators.html
- Blood, Heart and Circulation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bloodheartandcirculation.html
- Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniors.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Heart Failure is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
Heart Failure - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/heartfailure.html