Heart Failure
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure (CHF), is a chronic, progressive condition where your heart muscle can’t pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
Types of Heart Failure
Heart failure affects different sides and functions of the heart, including:
Acute vs. chronic heart failure
Acute heart failure happens suddenly in situations such as an illness. Symptoms can be new or flare (exacerbation). Chronic heart failure means it's a long-term condition that requires ongoing management.
Congestive heart failure
This term is used when the heart's inefficient pumping causes fluids to back up in the lungs and other tissues, leading to congestion. It’s an older term used when there’s extra fluid, often seen during acute illness.
Left-sided heart failure
The left side of the heart pumps blood with oxygen to the body. There are two sub-types of left-sided heart failure:
- Heart failure reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), formerly called systolic heart failure: The left ventricle can't squeeze with enough force, and the heart isn't strong enough to pump enough blood.
- Heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), formerly called diastolic heart failure: The left ventricle becomes stiff and can't relax to fill with enough blood between beats. As a result, it doesn’t pump enough blood.
Right-sided heart failure
This often develops because of left-sided heart failure. When the left side fails, pressure can back up in the lungs that strain the right side of the heart. Right-sided heart failure is also caused by other conditions that cause high pressure in the lungs.
Heart Failure Symptoms
The symptoms listed below indicate the heart is working harder. They depend on the type and severity of heart failure but often include:
- Difficulty sleeping when lying flat
- Fatigue (tiredness) and weakness
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea), especially during activity or when lying down
- Swelling (edema) in the ankles, legs, feet, fingers and/or stomach, caused by fluid retention
- Weight gain from fluid buildup
If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately. Catching changes early is the best way to keep you feeling well and avoid a trip to the hospital.
Treatment and Management
While heart failure is a serious, long-term condition that usually has no cure, treatment and management can help control symptoms and improve your quality of life. Treatment plans are highly individualized and may include:
- Lifestyle changes: This includes eating a heart-healthy diet lower in salt, regular exercise, managing weight (see video to learn more), quitting smoking and limiting alcohol.
- Medications: Various prescription medications relax blood vessels, control blood pressure, remove excess fluid, strengthen heart contractions or control heart rhythm. At times, medications are adjusted along with close monitoring. Do not stop your medications without talking to your provider first.
- Implanted devices: For some people, a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) can help regulate heart rhythm and prevent complications.
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgical options might be considered, such as coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve repair or a heart transplant.
Heart Failure Patient Resources
UnityPoint Health has several helpful tools and resources to help patients manage heart failure: