Heart failure

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart loses all or part of its capacity to pump blood around the body. It is a common, disabling and life-threatening disease. In developed countries, around 2% of adults suffer from heart failure. This rate increases to 6-10% in the over 65 age group. Causes include heart attack, arterial hypertension, smoking, alcoholism and diabetes, etc. Symptoms include increased night-time urination, swollen legs, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath that worsens when lying down. Diagnosis is clinical. An electrocardiogram, chest x-ray and echocardiography will be performed. Prevention is vital: diet, stopping smoking, blood pressure control, etc.

The cause should be treated if possible. Other treatments will also be administered to improve symptoms and stabilize the patient. For example oxygen, diuretic treatment or antihypertensive treatment, treatment to improve the cardiac pump, etc.