What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a serious condition but it does not mean that the heart has failed. It means the heart is not pumping efficiently so that the lungs become congested (causing breathlessness) and there is a tendency to retain salt and water causing fluid retention.

Heart failure may result from any condition that overloads, damages, or reduces the efficiency of the heart muscle, such as a heart attack, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, coronary thrombosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Heart failure can affect the left side of the heart, the right side, or both. The symptoms and effects on the body depend on which side of the heart is affected. Left-sided heart failure is caused by ineffective contraction of the left ventricle, the lower chamber of the heart. With decreased pumping action of the left ventricle, fluid builds up in the left atrium, the upper chamber of the heart, and then in the lungs. Right-sided heart failure is caused by ineffective contraction of the right ventricle and is most commonly results from left-sided heart failure.

How common is heart failure?
Heart failure is more common with increasing age. It is uncommon in people younger than 65.

What are the symptoms of heart failure?
With heart failure symptoms develop gradually over time as the heart struggles to pump enough blood around the body. Symptoms include tiredness and a lack of energy, poor attention span, a fast heart rate, bloating and weight gain, and a cough.

Heart failure puts increased strain on the heart as it has to work harder and as symptoms persist, can become a chronic long-term condition.

How can heart failure be diagnosed?
Since the symptoms of heart failure are common to several other medical conditions, diagnostic tests are required to confirm a diagnosis. Chest x-rays are taken to show whether the heart is enlarged and lungs congested, a specialised blood test (BNP) and electrocardiogram can help make the diagnosis and a echocardiogram will show how well the heart muscle and valves are working.

How can heart failure be treated?
Treatment for heart failure aims to control or stabilise the symptoms, whilst additional treatment may be necessary to treat the cause of the heart muscle damage or blockage.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) may be prescribed to prevent a build up of fluid as a result of poor ventricular contraction.

Beta Blockers may be prescribed to protect the heart.

Diuretics are often prescribed to ease fluid retention.

Digoxin may be prescribed in more severe cases of heart failure to help the heart muscle contract more strongly.

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Also see NHS Direct patient leaflet on Heart Failure