Heart failure is a broad term to describe conditions when the heart is not pumping blood as well as it should.
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure
- Shortness of breath (waking up at night or decrease in the ability to exercise)
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Tiredness or fatigue
- Swelling of legs, ankles or other body parts
- Lack of appetite or nausea
- Confusion
- Increased heart rate
- More frequent urinating (especially at night)
Treatments for Heart Failure
- Medications
- Lifestyle changes (eating a balance diet, exercising, quitting smoking, etc.)
Types of Heart Failure
Heart failure can occur on both the left and right sides of the heart and occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the needs of the body.
Systolic heart failure, or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, happens when the heart muscle does not contract or squeeze as strongly as it should.
Diastolic heart failure, or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, happens when the heart does not relax as well as it should.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a type of heart failure that requires timely medical care. CHF occurs when blood backs up in the veins leading back to the heart, leading to congestion in the body’s tissues.