Overview

What Is Heart Failure?

Heart failure is a long-term condition that can gradually worsen over time, enlarging your heart and causing it to pump less efficiently. Despite working harder, your heart becomes less able to pump essential blood and oxygen to organs and tissue in your body.

Many people mistakenly believe that heart failure means that the heart has stopped or is about to stop. According to the Heart Failure Society of America*, heart failure simply means that the heart is not pumping blood through the body as well as it should.

As the heart's pumping action weakens, blood backs up into the blood vessels around the lungs and causes seepage of fluid into the lungs. The fluid causes congestion and makes it hard to breathe. Many people with heart failure also have swollen legs and feet. That is why heart failure is sometimes called congestive heart failure.

Related Resources

What Is Heart Failure?: This booklet from Northwestern Memorial Hospital will help you understand more about heart failure and its treatment.
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