Heart failure is best defined as an inability of the heart
to pump blood forward into the body at a rate that meets the oxygen demands
of the body’s tissues. Heart failure produces a constellation of signs
and symptoms, which we will explore in this article. One very common symptom
of heart failure is fatigue. When there is an inadequate supply oxygen
to your body’s tissues, you become tired or find that you cannot exercise
as much as you used to. When the blood is not being pumped forward into
the body, the lungs can become congested with blood that flows backwards
from the heart. As a result, you may feel shortness of breath. The term
“congestive heart failure” originates from this symptom of heart failure.
Heart failure is a common cardiac condition, seen most
frequently in the elderly population. In the United States alone, there
are more than 2 million people afflicted with heart failure. Additionally,
about 400,000 new cases of heart failure are diagnosed each year. Despite
an overall decrease in deaths due to cardiovascular causes in the United
States today, heart failure related death has increased over the past three
decades.
What
Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure?
The physical signs of heart failure depend on the duration
and severity of the condition, and can be detected by just observing the
patient. In general, the following physical signs suggest a diagnosis of
heart failure.
