About This Condition
What is heart failure?
Heart failure means that your heart isn’t pumping blood properly. Your heart still beats, but its ability to pump enough blood throughout your body isn’t being met. As a result, blood can back up in your veins and fluid can build up in your body, leading to edema — swelling in your feet, ankles, and legs. If fluid builds up in your lungs, you can experience pulmonary edema, which causes difficulty breathing. When suffering from heart failure, your body doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen.
There is no single cause for heart failure. Many sources contribute, including coronary artery disease (CAD) — a disease of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. At Phoenix Cardiac Surgery, we lead innovations in the surgical treatment of heart failure, including heart transplantation and mechanical alternatives like the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD).
Common Symptoms
Common symptoms of heart failure.
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Shortness of breath
Especially during activity or when lying down.
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Swelling in legs and feet
Edema caused by fluid buildup in the lower body.
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Fatigue and weakness
Reduced energy from inadequate blood flow.
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Reduced exercise tolerance
Difficulty with activities you previously managed easily.
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CONDITION
Arrhythmia
Abnormal heart rhythm that can make the heart beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
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