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About Heart Failure

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Did you know?

60 million

Heart failure

Approximately

Expand all

Your heart is made up of 4 separate chambers that pump blood.

How does the heart work Image

All 4 chambers work together in a continuous and coordinated effort to keep the blood moving throughout your body.

 

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Heart failure is a long-term condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's need for blood and oxygen. It’s different from other cardiovascular health issues.6
CVD

Cardiovascular disease

Is a condition that refers to all diseases of the heart and blood vessels6
Heart attack

Heart attack

Occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of the heart7

Blockages in the blood vessels of the heart

Blockages in the blood
vessels of the heart

(coronary artery disease or
 heart attack)

High blood pressure

High blood pressure

The heart will have to pump harder than usual to
keep the blood circulating

Diabetes

Diabetes

Increases the risk of developing hypertension and
atherosclerosis, which contributes to heart failure

Obesity

Obesity

Causes the heart to work much harder than for a
non-obese individual

 
Common symptoms of heart failure
  • Shortness of breath especially with activity or lying flat
  • Reduced ability to exercise
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Persistent cough
  • Rapid weight gain from fluid build up

Be active

Be active

Eat a healthy diet

Eat a healthy diet

Watch your sodium (salt) intake

Watch your sodium (salt) intake

Maintain a healthy weight

Maintain a healthy weight

Stick to your treatment plan

Stick to your treatment plan

Stop smoking or vaping

Stop smoking or vaping

Stay away from alcohol

Stay away from alcohol

More for you…

References

  1. Bragazzi N et al. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2021; DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaa147

  2. Azad N et al. J Geriatr Cardiol 2014;11:329

  3. Mozaffarian D et al. Circulation 2016;133:e38

  4. Organs Talk. Rethinking what heart failure means to you. https://www.organs-talk.com/hf/about-hf/rethink-hf (accessed 27 July 2022)

  5. American Heart Association. Types of Heart Failure. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure/types-of-heart-failure (last accessed 7 February 2022)

  6. American Heart Association. What is Heart Failure? https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure (last accessed 7 February 2022)

  7. World Health Organisation. Cardiovascular Diseases. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) (last accessed 8 February 2022)

  8. American Heart Association. What is a Heart Attack? https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/about-heart-attacks (last accessed 8 February 2022)

  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Failure. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_failure.htm

  10. Mayo Clinic. Heart failure. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142 (last accessed 7 February 2022)