What should you know about AHA heart failure?

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump or fill well enough to meet the body's needs without increased pressure. It does not mean the heart has stopped. The condition can affect the left side, right side, or both, and treatment depends on the cause, heart function, symptoms, blood pressure, kidneys, and other illnesses.

Heart failure commonly presents with breathlessness during activity or when lying flat, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, swollen ankles, rapid fluid-related weight gain, or waking short of breath. Some people also notice cough, abdominal fullness, palpitations, or needing to urinate more at night.

Possible contributors include long-standing hypertension, coronary artery disease, previous heart muscle injury, valve disease, and rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation. Symptoms alone cannot show the cause or severity, so assessment often combines examination, blood tests, an electrocardiogram, and heart imaging.

Take prescribed medicines at the scheduled times and do not double a missed dose unless your treatment plan says to. Track morning weight under similar conditions, ankle swelling, breathlessness, blood pressure if advised, and how far you can comfortably walk. Follow the personalised advice you were given about salt and fluids rather than imposing a severe restriction yourself.

Bring the record and all medicines to each chronic disease review. Ask before using anti-inflammatory painkillers, decongestants, supplements, or salt substitutes because some can worsen fluid retention, blood pressure, kidney function, or potassium balance. Gradual activity is often useful when the condition is stable and the care team has advised a suitable level.

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness at rest, blue or grey lips, fainting, confusion, chest pain, or a sudden inability to speak comfortably because of breathing difficulty. Sit upright while waiting if that makes breathing easier, and do not drive yourself.

Contact the heart-failure team or clinician promptly for increasing ankle or abdominal swelling, a rapid change in weight, needing extra pillows, waking breathless, a persistent faster or irregular heartbeat, reduced urine, dizziness, or a clear drop in usual activity. Use the thresholds in your personal action plan if you have one.

Ask what caused the heart failure, whether pumping strength is reduced or preserved, what each medicine does, and which changes should trigger a call. Clarify your targets for activity, weight monitoring, salt, and fluids; whether vaccinations are appropriate; and how kidney function and electrolytes will be checked.