What is Heart Failure?

The term “heart failure” means that your heart is not pumping and/or relaxing as it should be. As a result, your body is not getting enough of the oxygen-rich blood it needs to function properly. This causes less blood to go to tissues and organs such as your brain, liver and kidneys.

Heart failure is not a sudden condition like a heart attack. It does not mean your heart has stopped beating. The muscles in your heart wall have slowly become weaker. This develops over a period of weeks or months.

A weakened heart is not able to pump enough blood for your body’s needs. It tries to make up the difference by:
  • Getting larger
  • Growing more muscle
  • Pumping faster

What is Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)?

HFpEF (pronounced “huff-puff”) is a type of heart disease that causes shortness of breath, fatigue, exercise intolerance, and fluid retention in the legs and/or abdomen. It is one of the main forms of heart failure, and is very common, especially in older adults. In patients with HFpEF, the heart squeezes normally but it is stiffer than normal and cannot relax. Because the heart muscle is stiff, it cannot properly fill with blood, leading to a backup of blood into the lungs and not enough blood being pumped to the rest of the body. Patients with HFpEF are at risk for hospitalizations for heart failure and other complications if it is not diagnosed and treated adequately. This is why it is very important for you to be in close contact with your cardiologist and for you to follow-up with them in clinic regularly.

Common heart failure symptoms

Less blood flow can cause fluid to build up in your body, a condition known as congestive heart failure. Below are some common symptoms of fluid overload to watch for.

  • Shortness of breath during rest, activity, or when lying flat
  • Swelling of the feet, ankles and/or legs (edema)
  • Bloating, swelling or tightness in the abdomen
  • Sudden weight gain
  • Fatigue or loss of energy
  • Frequent dry cough
  • Loss of appetite and/or nausea

Tips for checking your weight, blood pressure and heart rate

To properly manage your heart failure and keep track of any sudden changes in your health, it is important to track your weight, blood pressure and heart rate on a regular basis. Here are some tips to keep in mind when tracking these parameters:

Weight

  • Weigh yourself at the same time every morning before eating or drinking
  • Weigh yourself after you empty your bladder
  • Weigh yourself with the same scale on a hard, flat surface
  • Weigh yourself with the same amount of clothes
  • Write down your weight in a log

Blood pressure and heart rate

  • Check before taking your morning medications and 2 hours after taking your medications
  • Write down your blood pressure and heart rate in a log