Heart failure occurs when your heart cannot pump enough blood to support your body functions. Seek help immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or swelling.

Heart failure is characterized by the heart’s inability to pump an adequate supply of blood to the body. Without sufficient blood flow, all major body functions are disrupted. Heart failure is a condition or a collection of symptoms that weaken or stiffen your heart.

In some people with heart failure, the heart has difficulty pumping enough blood to support other organs in the body. Other people may have a hardening and stiffening of the heart muscle itself, which blocks or reduces blood flow to the heart.




Heart failure can affect the right or left side of your heart or both at the same time. It can be either an acute (short-term) or chronic (ongoing) condition.

  • With acute heart failure, the symptoms appear suddenly but go away fairly quickly. This condition can occur after a heart attack. It may also be a result of a problem with the heart valves that control the flow of blood in the heart.
  • With chronic heart failure, symptoms are continuous and don’t improve over time. Most heart failure cases are chronic.

About 6.2 million Americans have heart failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most cases are diagnosed in men. However, women are more likely to die from heart failure when the condition goes untreated.

Heart failure is a serious medical condition that requires treatment. Early treatment increases your chances of long-term recovery with fewer complications. Call your doctor right away if you’re having any symptoms of heart failure.