What is Heart Failure?

Heart failure; otherwise know as congestive heart failure, is most often a chronic long-term disorder in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood efficiently.   Although it can sometimes develop suddenly but it should not be confused with an heart attack, which is when the heart suddenly stops.  Basically, the heart is no longer able to produce as much oxygen enriched blood as the organs need to survive.  With heart failure, many organs don't receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which damages them and reduces their ability to function properly.

The most common causes of heart failure are hypertension (high blood pressure) and coronary artery disease.  Other structural or functional causes of heart failure include the following:

Valvular heart disease
Congenital *heart disease (Birth Defect in the Heart)
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Lung disease
Heart tumor
 
Symptoms
Weight gain
Swelling of feet and ankles
Swelling of the abdomen
Pronounced Neck Veins
Loss of appetite - indigestion
Nausea and vomiting
Shortness of breath with activity, or after lying down for a while
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue - weakness - faintness
Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
Irregular or rapid pulse
Decreased alertness or concentration
Cough
Decreased urine production
Need to urinate at night

If you are concerned, then please bring these concerns up with your physician.