Heart Failure: What to Know

Heart failure means that your heart isn't able to pump blood the way it should. The heart might not be able to pump enough blood and oxygen to your body tissues.

Heart failure is usually a long-term condition. Be sure to take good care of yourself and follow your treatment plan.

• Stage A: At risk for heart failure.
  • You don't have any symptoms, but you're at risk for getting heart failure.
• Stage B: Pre-heart failure.
  • You don't have any symptoms, but your heart has changes that show heart failure.
• Stage C: Symptomatic heart failure.
  • You have symptoms of heart failure, and your heart has changed in ways that show heart failure.
• Stage D: Advanced heart failure.
  • You have symptoms that make it hard to live your daily life, and you often need to stay in the hospital because of heart failure.

What are the causes?

• High blood pressure.
• Coronary artery disease. This is when cholesterol and fat build up in the arteries.
• Heart attack.
• Heart valves that don't open and close properly.
• Damage to the heart muscle.
• An infection of the heart muscle.
• Lung disease.

What increases the risk?

• Getting older. The risk of heart failure goes up as a person ages.
• Using tobacco or nicotine products.
• Being overweight.
• Using alcohol or drugs.
• Having any of these conditions:
  • Diabetes.
  • Abnormal heart rhythms.
  • Thyroid problems.
  • Chronic kidney disease.
• Having a family history of heart failure.
• Having taken medicines that can damage the heart.

What are the signs or symptoms?

• Shortness of breath. This may happen when doing things like climbing stairs.
• A cough that doesn't go away.
• Swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, or belly. This is called edema.
• Losing or gaining weight for no reason.
• Trouble breathing when lying flat.
• A fast heartbeat.

• Feeling tired and not having energy.
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed. You may feel like you're going to faint.
• Not wanting to eat as much as normal.
• Feeling like you may vomit.
• Feeling confused.

How is this diagnosed?

• Your symptoms and medical history.
• A physical exam.
• Blood tests.
• Other tests. These may include:
  • Chest X-ray.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG).
  • Echocardiogram.
  • Cardiac MRI.
  • Cardiac catheterization and angiogram.

How is this treated?

• Medicines. These can be given to:
  • Treat blood pressure, lower heart rates, or make the heart muscle pump stronger.
  • Cause the kidneys to remove extra salt and water from the blood through your pee.
• Changes in your daily life. These may include:
  • Eating a healthy diet.
  • Staying at a healthy weight.
  • Quitting tobacco or drug use.
  • Limiting or avoiding alcohol.
  • Getting regular exercise.
  • Taking part in a cardiac rehab program. This program helps you improve your health through exercise, education, and counseling.
• Surgery. Surgery can be done to:
  • Open blocked arteries.
  • Repair valves.
  • Put a device in the heart. This might be a pacemaker, a device to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or a device to help the heart pump better.
• A heart transplant. This means getting a healthy heart from a donor. This is done when other treatments have not helped.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Treat other conditions as told by your health care provider. These may include high blood pressure or lung disease.
• Learn as much as you can about heart failure.
• Keep all follow-up visits. Your provider will want to check on your condition.

Where to find more information

• American Heart Association: heart.org
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/heartdisease