Key Points

• Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood throughout the body.
• Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. But it does mean that your heart is not able to pump blood the way that it should.
• Heart failure is a serious condition that develops over time as the pumping action of the heart grows weaker.
• Heart failure is caused by other diseases or conditions that damage or overwork the heart muscle.
• The leading causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• About 5 million people in the United States have heart failure. Each year, 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure. It causes or contributes to about 300,000 deaths each year.
• Heart failure can happen to anyone but is more common in people over 65 years of age, among women, and in African Americans.
• The most common symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath; feeling tired; and swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, and sometimes the abdomen.
• An echocardiogram is the most useful test to diagnose heart failure.
• The treatments for heart failure include lifestyle changes, medicines, and specialized care for those with severe disease.
• People with severe heart failure are frequently admitted to the hospital.
• If you have a disease or a condition that makes heart failure more likely, you may be able to prevent it by controlling or treating the disease or condition.
• Heart failure usually can’t be cured, and you will likely have to take medicine for the rest of your life. It’s important that you know that your symptoms may get worse over time. As your symptoms get worse, you may not be able to do many of the things that you did before you had heart failure.
• If you have severe heart failure and symptoms at rest, you can expect your condition to worsen. It’s important that you and your family discuss what you can expect and your final treatment options with your doctor while you are able to do so.