Heart failure

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Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped or that it is about to do so. Instead it is when the heart cannot pump blood around the body efficiently. This means that the tissue of the body is not getting enough oxygen and nutrients to enable it to function properly. In addition, waste materials cannot be transported properly to the lungs and kidneys for excretion. The result is that fluid builds up in the lungs and tissue.

Heart failure is caused by various other conditions including heart disease and is most common in those over 65. Depending on where the heart muscle damage is worse, heart failure can affect mainly the right side of the heart or mainly the left side.

Right heart failure occurs if blood returning from the body to the right side of the heart cannot be pushed on to the lungs quickly enough.
Left heart failure occurs when the left side of the heart is unable to clear the blood from the lungs quickly enough, causing breathlessness and fluid accumulation in the lungs.

Right heart failure is most commonly a secondary effect of left heart failure. It is rare for either side to fail in complete isolation. Left heart failure is the more common of the two.Heart failure can either be acute (it can come on quickly, without warning) or chronic (a long standing problem).