Heart failure Heart failure means that the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly. It usually occurs because the heart has become too weak or stiff. It's sometimes called congestive heart failure, although this name is not widely used nowadays. Heart failure does not mean your heart has stopped working. It just needs some support to help it work better. It can occur at any age, but is most common in older people. Heart failure is a long-term condition that tends to get gradually worse over time. It cannot usually be cured, but the symptoms can often be controlled for many years. Coronavirus adviceGet advice about coronavirus and heart failure from the British Heart Foundation Symptoms of heart failure The main symptoms of heart failure are:
Some people also experience other symptoms, such as a persistent cough, a fast heart rate and dizziness. Symptoms can develop quickly (acute heart failure) or gradually over weeks or months (chronic heart failure). When to get medical advice See a GP if you experience persistent or gradually worsening symptoms of heart failure. Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E department as soon as possible if you have sudden or very severe symptoms. A number of tests can be used to help check how well your heart is working, including blood tests, an ECG and an echocardiogram. Find out more about how heart failure is diagnosed Causes of heart failure Heart failure is often the result of a number of problems affecting the heart at the same time. Conditions that can lead to heart failure include:
Sometimes anaemia, drinking too much alcohol, an overactive thyroid or high pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) can also lead to heart failure. Treatments for heart failure Treatment for heart failure usually aims to control the symptoms for as long as possible and slow down the progression of the condition. Common treatments include:
Treatment will usually be needed for life. A cure may be possible when heart failure has a treatable cause. For example, if your heart valves are damaged, replacing or repairing them may cure the condition. Outlook for heart failure Heart failure is a serious long-term condition that'll usually continue to get slowly worse over time. It can severely limit the activities you're able to do and is often eventually fatal. But it's very difficult to tell how the condition will progress on an individual basis. It's very unpredictable. Lots of people remain stable for many years, while in some cases it may get worse quickly. Social care and support guideIf you:
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