Heart Failure

Posted: Nov. 1, 2005

Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the needs of other body organs. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped.

Heart failure is a serious condition. There is no cure for heart failure at this time. Once diagnosed, medicines are needed for the rest of the person's life.

Common symptoms of heart failure include the following:

• Shortness of breath during mild or usual daily activities.
• Having trouble breathing when lying down.
• Weight gain with swelling in the legs, ankles, or lower back from fluid buildup in the body. Swelling can be mild or moderate.
• General tiredness and weakness.

Around 5 million people in the United States have heart failure. About 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. More than 266,000 people in the United States die each year with heart failure.

What causes it?
The most common causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease, hypertension or high blood pressure, and diabetes. About 7 of 10 people with heart failure had high blood pressure before being diagnosed.

The risk of death within five years of being diagnosed with heart failure is more than 50 percent. About 80 percent of men and 70 percent of women with heart failure under the age of 65 die within eight years.

The quality of life and life expectancy of persons with heart failure can be improved with early diagnosis and treatment. Treatment usually involves three to four medicines. Medicines used to treat heart failure include ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors), diuretics, digoxin, and beta blockers.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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