In heart failure, the heart is unable to pump the right amount of blood throughout the body. This causes blood to back up in the veins. Depending on which part of the heart is affected most, this can lead to a build up of excess fluid in the lungs, feet, and elsewhere. Heart failure can worsen with time, which may lead to the use of many treatments. Because of this, doctors are aggressive in treating heart failure to try to prevent it from worsening.

The leading causes of heart failure are:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack

Other common causes include:

• Problems with the heart's valves due to:
  • Rheumatic heart disease
  • Bacterial endocarditis
  • Congenital defects
  • Calcium deposits from atherosclerosis
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes

Other less common causes include:

• Cardiomyopathy (weakened, damaged heart muscle from various causes)
• Certain medications
• Abnormal heartbeats ( arrhythmias )
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Amyloidosis
• Kidney failure and/or liver failure
• Thiamine ( vitamin B1 ) deficiency

Risk factors include:

• Advancing age
• Obesity
• Excess intake of salt and fat
• Excess alcohol intake
• Sex: male
• Race: Black
• Smoking
• Pregnancy
• High fever
• Severe infection
• Chronic lung disease ( emphysema )
• Chemotherapy

Symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath—at first only with activity, then progressing to shortness of breath at rest
• Unexplained weight gain
• Swelling of feet, ankles, or legs
• Need to sleep propped up
• Fatigue, weakness
• Wheezing
• Cough —may be dry and hacking or wet sounding, may have a pink, frothy sputum
• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Abdominal pain

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. She will also do a physical exam, which will include:

• Listening to your lungs and heart with a stethoscope
• Feeling the abdomen for tenderness and liver swelling
• Checking your feet, ankles, and legs for swelling

Tests may include:

• Blood tests—to look for certain markers in the blood that help the doctor determine what is happening with your heart
• Urine tests—to look for certain markers in the urine that help the doctor determine what is happening with your heart
• Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)—records the heart's activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle
• Echocardiogram —uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to examine the size, shape, function, and motion of the heart
• Exercise stress test —records the heart's electrical activity during increased physical activity (may be coupled with echocardiogram or neclear scan)
  • If you cannot exercise, you may be given medicine. This medicine simulates physical exertion.
• Nuclear scanning—uses radioactive material (such as thallium) to highlight areas with diminished flow
• Coronary angiography —uses a catheter, dye, and x-rays to look for abnormalities (eg, narrowing, blockage) in the arteries and evaluate the function of the heart

Heart failure may be caused by another condition. Treating this condition should improve your heart failure or prevent if from getting worse.

The following lifestyle changes can help treat the symptoms of heart failure and slow down its progression:

• Avoid alcohol.
• If you smoke, quit .
• Lose weight if needed.
• Eat a healthy diet . Your diet should be low in fat and salt and high in fiber .
• Ask your doctor if you need to restrict fluids. Find out how much salt and fluid is right for you.
• Begin an exercise program with guidance from your doctor. Aerobic training may help improve your level of physical activity and quality of life.
• Weigh yourself every morning. This will allow you to quickly detect if you are retaining fluid.

Your doctor will most likely prescribe a combination of medications, such as:

• ACE inhibitors or their alternatives to widen blood vessels
• Digoxin (also called digitalis) to help your heart pump
• Beta-blockers to slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure
• Diuretics to remove excess fluid in your body

You may also be given medications to:

• Thin the blood (eg, aspirin , warfarin [eg, Coumadin])
• Help manage chest pain (eg, nitroglycerin )
• Help manage cholesterol levels
• Help control high blood pressure

If heart failure worsens, you may need medical devices to help your heart pump blood properly. If you have heart failure, follow your doctor's instructions .