Heart failure does not mean that the heart
has ‘failed’ or is about to stop beating.
The term ‘heart failure’ means that the
heart is no longer capable of efficiently pumping oxygen-rich
blood effectively to the lungs and body tissues.
The body depends on an efficient supply of oxygen and
nutrient-rich blood to work effectively. If you have
heart failure, your body’s tissues do not get
a good supply of blood because the heart is not pumping
blood efficiently around the body.
As the heart has to work harder to pump enough blood
to the lungs and the rest of the body, it eventually
weakens, leading to breathlessness (as the lungs become
waterlogged) and fluid retention (swelling) in feet,
ankles and legs. This means that everyday activities
can become quite difficult, and you may feel tired and
breathless (see ‘Symptoms’)
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Last Updated 04/09/2008 14:06:00
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