What Is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart
can’t pump blood the way it should. In some cases, the heart can’t
fill with enough blood. In other cases, the heart can’t send blood to the
rest of the body with enough force. Some people have both problems.
“Heart failure” doesn’t mean that
your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. However, it’s a
serious condition that requires medical care.
Overview
Heart failure develops over time as the pumping of
the heart grows weaker. It can affect the right side of the heart only or both
the left and right sides of the heart. Most cases involve both sides of the
heart.
Right-side heart failure occurs when the heart
can’t pump blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. Left-side heart
failure occurs when the heart can’t pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the
rest of the body.
Right-side heart failure may cause fluid to build up
in the feet, ankles, legs, liver, abdomen, and, rarely, the veins in the neck.
Right-side and left-side heart failure also cause shortness of breath and
fatigue (tiredness).
The leading causes of heart failure are diseases
that damage the heart. These include
coronary
artery disease (CAD),
high
blood pressure, and
diabetes.
Outlook
Heart failure is a very common condition. About 5
million people in the United States have heart failure, and it results in about
300,000 deaths each year.
Both children and adults can have heart failure,
although the symptoms and treatments differ. This article focuses on heart
failure in adults.
Taking steps to prevent CAD can help prevent heart
failure. These steps include following a heart healthy diet, not smoking, doing
physical activity, and losing weight if you’re
overweight
or obese. Working with your doctor to control high blood pressure and
diabetes also can help prevent heart failure.
People who have heart failure can live longer and
more active lives if it’s diagnosed early and they follow their treatment
plans. For most, treatment includes medicines and lifestyle measures.
Currently, there’s no cure for heart failure.
However, researchers are finding and testing new treatments. These treatments
offer hope for better ways to delay heart failure and its complications.
December 2007
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