Heart failure

What is heart failure?

In simple terms, heart failure is inability of heart’s normal function of pumping blood in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of the body. It is different from heart attack and cardiac arrest. When the heart fails to pump out blood adequately, different organs of the body suffer from lack of adequate oxygenated blood. It affects the functions of all organs, which slow down their proper function. Moreover damming of blood in the vessels returning blood to the heart cause excess fluid to collect in the body. Legs and face become gradually swollen. Collection of fluid in the lungs makes breathing more and more difficult. As heart failure progresses, effort intolerance increases. In advanced stages, no activity is possible without breathlessness.