{"id":5399,"date":"2023-05-20T11:31:46","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T10:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/?page_id=5399"},"modified":"2025-03-25T13:43:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T13:43:42","slug":"left-heart-failure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/left-heart-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"Left heart failure"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5399\" class=\"elementor elementor-5399\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c1d5a7d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1c1d5a7d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1eee50da\" data-id=\"1eee50da\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46ea188a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"46ea188a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Heart failure\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2926b409 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2926b409\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Left heart failure<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d8538de\" data-id=\"4d8538de\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e2c402b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e2c402b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-abaac61\" data-id=\"abaac61\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b7f2d8 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"8b7f2d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c368e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c368e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What is left heart failure?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eeaec1c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eeaec1c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ab1bc5d\" data-id=\"ab1bc5d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71a6e067 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71a6e067\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Left heart failure<\/strong> is the most common type of heart failure.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The left side of your heart pulls oxygen-rich blood from your lungs and pumps it back out into your body. <\/span><\/p><p>If you have<strong> left heart failure<\/strong>, that means your left ventricle (shown in red in the animation below), isn\u2019t working properly. Your heart is unable to push blood out to your body efficiently and it will struggle to draw blood from your lungs.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a normal heart, the left ventricle should be able to squeeze 50% to 75% of its blood out into the body with each contraction.\u00a0 In a failing heart, that percentage, which is called the ejection fraction, will be 40% or less.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood will tend to pool in your lungs, and your body will not get enough oxygen to function as it should.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When this happens, you may have difficulty breathing, and you may compensate by panting and trying to breathe more rapidly.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may also suffer from extreme tiredness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two types of <strong>left heart failure<\/strong>. They used to be known as systolic (systole is the contraction-and-pumping phase of your heartbeat) and diastolic (diastole is the phase of your heartbeat when the ventricles expand to draw blood in). However, your doctor is now more likely to talk about &#8220;heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction&#8221;, abbreviated to <strong>HFrEF<\/strong>, or &#8220;heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction&#8221;, abbreviated to <strong>HFpEF.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1273d578\" data-id=\"1273d578\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c38c6c2 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c38c6c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Left heart failure: Left ventricle and ejection fraction<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0456e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"a0456e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe \n    width=\"400\" \n    height=\"600\"\n    data-static=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b_6_001.gif\"\n    data-animated=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/anims\/b6\/b_6_001.html\"\n    src=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/stats\/b\/b_6_001.gif\"\n    frameborder=\"0\" \n    title=\"animation of a beating heart\">\n<\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78b40723 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78b40723\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> HFrEF, your left ventricle is weak and can\u2019t squeeze hard enough to pump more than about 40% of the blood out. With HFpEF, it is stiff or weak and doesn\u2019t fill properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>HFrEF is usually a mixture of systolic and diastolic dysfunction. HFpEF is purely diastolic.<\/p><p>If you want learn more about a normal heartbeat take a look at <strong>Your heart: The basics<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-25433d90 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"25433d90\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-29b3430a\" data-id=\"29b3430a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fd7427f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3fd7427f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e594a62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e594a62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What causes left heart failure?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d867acb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d867acb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-51142bf\" data-id=\"51142bf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-461c89b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"461c89b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart failure can have many different causes. Anything that damages the heart or interferes with its ability to function can ultimately result in heart failure.<\/span><\/p><p>Most of the time, <strong>left heart failure<\/strong> is the result of coronary artery disease or a heart attack. But there are other conditions or behaviors that can cause cardiomyopathy and that will ultimately lead to heart failure. These include things like substance abuse, cardiac infections, and adverse reactions to chemotherapy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70ec0b35\" data-id=\"70ec0b35\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66bd9d20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"66bd9d20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common causes of <strong>left heart failure<\/strong> include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/atherosclerosis\/#coronaryarteries\">Coronary artery disease<\/a><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart damage from a previous <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/heart-attack\/\">heart attack<\/a><\/span><\/li><li>Under- or untreated<a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/hypertension\/\"> hypertension\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li>Heart valve disorders, particularly <a href=\"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/mitral-valve-regurgitation\/\">mitral valve regurgitation<\/a><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart inflammations or infections, such as myocarditis<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiomyopathy (a weakened or enlarged heart muscle) from other causes\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity may increase your risk of heart failure<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-36769cb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36769cb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ba3786\" data-id=\"6ba3786\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4ac63f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a4ac63f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6875d34 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6875d34\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What are the symptoms of left heart failure?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-54f8c95 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"54f8c95\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4564da8\" data-id=\"4564da8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c1d823 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c1d823\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key symptom of <strong>left heart failure<\/strong> is shortness of breath, especially when exercising. You may, for example, find it difficult to carry on a conversation while walking.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A related symptom is shortness of breath when lying down. This happens because fluid tends to build up in your feet and legs if your heart is not able to pump properly and, when you lie flat, some of that fluid moves to your upper body and causes lung congestion (it can also cause frequent urination at night). People with left heart failure often need to sleep propped up in order to be able to breathe properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-55e520b\" data-id=\"55e520b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b86240 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b86240\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fluid retention in your legs and feet will make them swell and you may find that your shoes are a very tight fit.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common symptoms of <strong>left heart failure<\/strong> include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath on exertion, even with very mild exercise<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty breathing while lying down; waking up short of breath and needing to sit upright in order to breath<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swelling in the feet and legs<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rapid heartbeat<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiredness<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-07c23fc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"07c23fc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-881d04e\" data-id=\"881d04e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d94882 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"9d94882\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20f1de6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"20f1de6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>How is left heart failure treated?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f2d5b05 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f2d5b05\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e162e6\" data-id=\"3e162e6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb88b06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb88b06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment based on the severity of your <strong>left heart failure<\/strong>. If you have mild heart failure, and it is stable, treatment may focus on lifestyle changes, such as exercising more or losing weight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, you may need to take medications such as beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers. These drugs can help your heart to recover and pump more effectively.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Diuretics may be prescribed to reduce your fluid load and help you to manage symptoms such as swollen feet and ankles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your <strong>left heart failure<\/strong> is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery to implant a pacemaker or an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator). In the most severe cases, a cardiac assist device or heart transplantation may be required.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-87aae68\" data-id=\"87aae68\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1da2d0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1da2d0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatments for <strong>left heart failure<\/strong> include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifestyle changes:\u00a0 Losing weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising more, and quitting smoking<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medications that will help your heart heal and recover its ability to pump<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diuretics to help manage your fluid load and reduce swelling<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surgical insertion of an ICD, if your ejection fraction is 35% or less and you are not responding to other treatments<\/span><\/li><li>Surgical insertion of a biventricular pacemaker (in severe cases)<\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiac assist device to help your heart pump (in severe cases)<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart transplantation (in severe cases)<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8161203 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8161203\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-09761a1\" data-id=\"09761a1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-686331c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"686331c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61abca0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"61abca0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What are the aims of treatment?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a39f5e2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a39f5e2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-31e5a08\" data-id=\"31e5a08\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a211ec6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a211ec6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The aims of treatment for people with <strong>left heart failure<\/strong> are to relieve symptoms like breathlessness and swelling, to help your heart to recover and beat more effectively, and to prevent or slow further weakening of your heart muscles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9888be1\" data-id=\"9888be1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Heart failure\u00a0 Left heart failure What is left heart failure? Left heart failure is the most common type of heart failure. The left side of your heart pulls oxygen-rich blood from your lungs and pumps it back out into your body. If you have left heart failure, that means your left ventricle (shown in red [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5399","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5399"}],"version-history":[{"count":218,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17047,"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5399\/revisions\/17047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heart-explained.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}