Heart failure means your heart is not pumping blood around your body as well as it should. It is usually a long-term condition that gets worse over time, but treatment can control symptoms for many years. Around 1 million people in the UK have heart failure.
Symptoms
- breathlessness, when active, lying flat or at night
- feeling very tired and weak
- swollen ankles and legs, caused by fluid building up
- sudden weight gain
- feeling dizzy or light-headed
Common causes
- a heart attack or coronary heart disease
- high blood pressure
- atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm problems
- problems with the heart valves or heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- heavy drinking
Getting diagnosed
Your GP may do a blood test called NT-proBNP. If it is raised, you will be referred for an echocardiogram, an ultrasound scan of the heart. It shows how well your heart pumps, often given as the ejection fraction.
Read about heart failure treatment.
Common questions
Does heart failure mean my heart is about to stop?
No. It means your heart needs extra support to pump blood around your body. Many people live for many years with heart failure.
Why do I need to weigh myself every day?
A sudden weight gain, such as 2kg (about 4 pounds) in 3 days, can be a sign that fluid is building up. Your heart failure team can then adjust your medicine early.
Sources we used
- NHS, Heart failure
- NICE guideline NG106, Chronic heart failure in adults
- British Heart Foundation, Heart failure
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