What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. It 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 that it should. The heart cannot fill with enough blood or pump with enough force -- or both.
(Click Human Heart for more detailed information on how the heart works.)
Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when the poor pumping function of the heart leads to certain symptoms. Other names for the condition besides congestive heart failure are:
- Left-sided heart failure
- Right-sided heart failure
- Systolic heart failure
- Diastolic heart failure.
How the Disease Progresses
Congestive heart failure develops over time as the pumping action of the heart grows weaker. It can affect the left side, the right side, or both sides of the heart. Most cases involve the left side, where the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. With right-sided heart failure, the heart cannot effectively pump blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen.
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure
The weakening of the pumping ability of the heart causes:
- Blood and fluid to "back up" into the lungs
- Buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles, and legs
- Tiredness and shortness of breath.
Heart failure is a serious condition. About 5 million people in the United States have heart failure, and the number is growing. Each year, another 550,000 people are diagnosed for the first time. Congestive heart failure contributes to or causes about 300,000 deaths each year.
Congestive Heart Failure: Important Facts
Key information to keep in mind regarding congestive heart failure is as follows:
- Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body.
- This condition does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. But it does mean that your heart is not able to pump blood the way that it should.
- Congestive heart failure is a serious condition that develops over time as the pumping action of the heart grows weaker.
- Congestive heart failure is caused by other diseases or conditions that damage or overwork the heart muscle.
- The leading causes of this condition are coronary artery disease (CAD), high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- About 5 million people in the United States have congestive heart failure. Each year, 550,000 new cases are diagnosed. Heart failure causes or contributes to about 300,000 deaths each year.
- Congestive heart failure can happen to anyone, but is more common in people over 65 years of age, in women, and in African Americans.
- The most common symptoms are shortness of breath; feeling tired; and swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, and sometimes the abdomen (stomach).
- An echocardiogram is the most useful test used to diagnose congestive heart failure.
- The treatments for this condition include lifestyle changes, medications, and specialized care for those with severe forms.
- People with severe congestive heart failure are frequently admitted to the hospital.
- If you have a disease or condition that makes heart failure more likely, you may be able to prevent it by controlling or treating the underlying disease or condition.
- Congestive heart failure usually cannot be cured, and you will likely have to take medication for the rest of your life. It is important to know that your symptoms may get worse over time. As the condition progresses, you may not be able to do many of the things that you did before you had heart failure.
- If you have severe congestive heart disease and symptoms at rest, you can expect your condition to get worse. It is important that you and your family discuss this and your final treatment options with your healthcare provider while you are still able to do so.
