What is heart failure?

Heart failure (also known as congestive heart failure) is a syndrome caused by the heart’s inability to pump strongly enough to supply the body and lungs with as much blood as they need.

It is a chronic, or long-term, condition, and it is the result of a wide range of different heart and circulation disorders, some treatable, some not.

Heart failure develops when your heart’s lower chambers, the ventricles, fail to fill properly with blood during the relaxed phase of your heartbeat and then don’t push enough blood out when they contract. Your heart is working hard, but it isn’t working effectively.

Your body can become starved of oxygen and fluid often builds up in your lungs, feet, and legs.

Heart failure is very common among elderly adults – it affects about 10% of people over 70 years old – and is usually categorized as left heart failure or right heart failure. If both sides fail, you have biventricular heart failure.

Left heart failure is the most common type.

If left untreated, heart failure can be deadly, and so if you develop the signs and symptoms of heart failure – shortness of breath on exertion, difficulty breathing when lying down, or swollen legs and feet – you should talk with your doctor.