Understanding heart failure

Heart failure is when your heart isn't pumping blood around your body as well as it should. It doesn’t mean that your heart isn’t working at all. It means that you might need support to help it work better.

What is heart failure?

The heart is an organ that pumps blood around the body. Blood contains oxygen and essential nutrients.

A number of conditions can affect how well the heart is able to pump, usually due to damage of the heart muscle. Heart failure is the phrase used if the heart is not pumping as well as normal.

When the heart is not pumping efficiently, the body gets less oxygen and nutrients. There can also be a build-up of fluid. The combination of these is what causes the symptoms of heart failure.

What symptoms can heart failure cause?

	Shortness of breath – this can be made worse by: Physical activity or exercise Lying down – some people are woken at night feeling breathless
	Cough – especially at night
	Swollen feet, ankles, legs or tummy
	Feeling unusually tired or weak
	Feeling light headed, faint or dizzy
	Palpitations or a fast heart rate
	Loss of appetite

The amount and severity of heart failure symptoms varies from person to person. The symptoms can come on gradually over weeks to months or very suddenly.

Pumping Marvellous guide to check your symptoms

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