Condition : Heart failure

Condition Heart failure

What is heart failure?

If you have sudden or very severe symptoms, such as chest pain and gasping for breath, call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.

Don’t delay, as you're more likely to suffer serious heart damage that means you need intensive care and a longer stay in hospital.

Heart failure is when your heart can’t pump blood around your body properly, usually because it’s become weak or stiff.

Acute heart failure is when symptoms develop quickly, while chronic heart failure develops gradually over weeks or months. Both types are a life-long condition that usually gets worse over time.

The main symptoms of heart failure are:

breathlessness after activity or at rest
feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting
feeling lightheaded or fainting
swollen ankles and legs (oedema)

You may also have a persistent cough, a fast heart rate, or dizziness. The symptoms of heart failure can mean you’re not able to do some activities.

It’s often difficult to forecast how the condition might progress as heart failure can be unpredictable. Some people may be able to manage the condition for many years, while others get worse very quickly.

What causes heart failure?

Heart failure is more common in older people, but it can affect you at any age.

Heart failure may be caused by:

clogged arteries (coronary heart disease)
high blood pressure, as it can put extra strain on your heart
conditions affecting your heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), such as atrial fibrillation
damage or other problems with your heart valves
birth defects that affect how your heart works (congenital heart disease)

Lifestyle factors, such as obesity, smoking, and drinking too much alcohol, can put you at increased risk of heart failure, and so can some conditions not linked directly to the heart, like diabetes, thyroid problems, and kidney disease.

Next steps

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