Heart Failure

Also known as congestive heart failure

Medically reviewed by Anthony Pearson, MD
Updated on January 24, 2025

Congestive heart failure—often referred to as heart failure—is the term used to describe what happens when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Heart failure should not be confused with cardiac arrest, in which the heart stops beating entirely. Instead, heart failure is the inadequate functioning of the heart muscle.

The condition can either be acute, meaning it occurs rapidly and generally on a short-term basis, or chronic, which means it occurs over the long term.

Symptoms of Heart Failure

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Key Terms

  • Coronary Angiogram

    Angiography is a common medical procedure used to visualize blood flow within the body and help diagnose various medical conditions. It also allows the opportunity to intervene and treat blockages and other abnormalities, especially those that affect the heart and brain.

    What Is Angiography?
  • Diastolic

    Between heartbeats, when the heart is not actively pumping blood into the arteries, the cardiac ventricles relax momentarily so they can refill with blood in preparation for the next contraction. This ventricular relaxation is called “diastole,” and the blood pressure during diastole is called diastolic blood pressure.

    What Is a Normal Blood Pressure Reading?
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)

    The electrocardiogram—also referred to as an ECG or EKG—is a non-invasive diagnostic test that evaluates your heart’s electrical system. It uses metal electrodes to detect the electrical charges generated by your heart as it beats, which are then graphed. The patterns help your doctor understand your heart’s rate and rhythm and identify some types of heart disease, including heart attacks.

    What Is an Electrocardiogram (ECG)?
  • Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs)

    The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a surgically implanted medical device that monitors your heart rhythm and automatically delivers lifesaving treatment should you develop the dangerous heart arrhythmias known as ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. ICDs are recommended for people who are known to have a high risk of sudden death from cardiac arrest.

    An Overview of the Implantable Defibrillator
  • Myocardial Biopsy

    In a myocardial biopsy, also called a heart biopsy, doctors use a very fine needle to take a sample of heart tissue. It is used to detect heart inflammation (myocarditis), as well as to evaluate rejection status after a heart transplant.

    Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Biopsy
  • Pacemaker

    A pacemaker is a small but sophisticated electronic device that is implanted under the skin to help regulate the heartbeat. Pacemakers are often used to treat cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, in heart failure, a specialized pacemaker called a cardiac resynchronization therapy device can significantly improve cardiac function and symptoms.

    What You Should Know About Pacemakers
  • Systolic

    The measurement of a person’s blood pressure is recorded as two different numbers—systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. When the heart is actively beating (an event called “systole”), the ejection of blood into the arteries causes blood pressure to rise. The peak blood pressure reached during cardiac contraction is called systolic blood pressure.

    Understanding Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

Types of Heart Failure

Midsection Of Woman Suffering From Chest Pain
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Woman Taking Medicine At Home for heart failure
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Woman having heart examined
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heart doctor
Systolic vs. Diastolic Heart Failure
Senior patient complaining of chest pain
Types of Heart Failure

Living With Heart Failure

A man clutching his chest in pain
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Older woman coughing at doctor's appointment.
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A person writing in a journal
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Chef cutting fresh and delicious vegetables for salad
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?

    The symptoms of heart failure can vary depending on the location of heart damage, which may occur on the heart’s ride side (right-sided heart failure), left side (left-sided heart failure), or both (biventricular failure). Symptoms for each differ somewhat, but those common to all three conditions include fatigue, dizziness, swelling in the legs, and shortness of breath, especially with exercise.

    Learn More: What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
  • What causes congestive heart failure?

    In heart failure, the strain put on heart muscles over a long period of time hampers efficient blood flow to the point that fluid builds up in the heart and lungs and, eventually, in the extremities. Heart failure may be caused by cardiovascular conditions that weaken the heart, such as heart attack, coronary artery disease, or hypertension, as well as by other diseases and conditions.

    Learn More: Causes and Risk Factors of Heart Failure
  • How is heart failure diagnosed?

    Heart failure is usually diagnosed with an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart that shows heart function. Measuring brain natriuretic peptide, or BNP, has also gained attention in recent decades because it can be performed using a blood test. Both tests, along with symptoms, may be used to establish or rule out a diagnosis of heart failure.

    Learn More: How Heart Failure Is Diagnosed
  • How long can you live with congestive heart failure?

    With appropriate lifestyle changes and medical treatment, you can live with congestive heart failure for many years. Adopting a heart-healthy diet and increasing physical activity are examples of lifestyle changes that will improve your heart and health. However, if left untreated, heart failure can cause blood to build up in the body, leading to swelling (edema) in the legs and lungs and, eventually, organ failure.

  • What are the four stages of congestive heart failure?

    The New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification identifies four stages of congestive heart failure, based on the level of symptoms. Class I indicates no limits on physical activity due to symptoms. Those with Class IV heart failure have no ability to be active, with symptoms of heart failure at rest.

    Learn More: What is Congestive Heart Failure?
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Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for Heart Failure
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Leg Swelling
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Close up of female nurse hands. She takes blood of patient in test tube at Hospital. - stock photo
Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
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Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) for Heart Failure
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Page Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. American Heart Association, Classes Of Heart Failure.

Additional Reading

  • National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Myocardial biopsy. MedlinePlus. Updated January 5, 2021.