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Heart Failure

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Heart failure (sometimes called congestive heart failure) is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demands of the lungs and the other organs. Heart failure can be acute or chronic.

The failing heart keeps pumping, but not particularly effectively. Heart failure causes lots of chemical changes in the body, influencing nerve function and hormones, as well as leading to a build up of fluid, often in the legs and the lungs. Symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness, swelling (oedema) of the legs and ankles, and tiredness.

Heart failure can develop as a result of:

coronary artery disease
a previous heart attack
high blood pressure
disease of the heart valves due to rheumatic disease or other causes
disease of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
heart defects present from birth (congenital heart disease)
inflammation of the heart (endocarditis)

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Glossary

Glossary entries within this article:

Aorta
- The chief artery that receives blood from the left ventricle of the heart and causes it to flow to the body.
Artery
- A vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It generally carries blood which is rich in oxygen. The exception in mammals is the pulmonary artery which takes deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
Blood pressure
- Pressure which is exerted by the heart when it pumps blood.
CAD (coronary artery disease)
- Condition in which deposits of fat or plaques build up in the cells lining the wall of a coronary artery, thus obstructing the flow of blood.
Cardiomyopathy
- The general term for diseases of the heart muscle. The most common of these diseases is dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle is weakened by the disease, causing left ventricular dilation leading to elevated diastolic pressure and volume.
Collateral circulation
- Network of small arteries which are normally closed. If the coronary artery is blocked, they may open up in order to take blood to the heart.
Congenital
- Existing at birth
Coronary angiogram
- A test to indicate where the arteries are constricted and how narrow they have become.
Coronary
- Relating to the heart or one of the two arteries which originate in the aorta and supply blood directly to the heart tissue.
Congestive Heart Failure
- Condition in which the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the requirements of the other organs in the body.
Ischemic heart disease
- Disorder caused by insufficient blood supply due to a constriction of coronary arteries.
Pulmonary artery
- Artery which takes blood from the heart to the lungs.

In the glossary you will find terms that we have provided with some extra-information.

Glossary

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