What happens if heart doesnt function properly

A catheter is inserted into the arteries or veins. Heart valve surgery: This procedure repairs a defective valve that makes the heart pump inefficiently.

Implantable left ventricular assist device: For hospital inpatients who have not responded to other treatments, this can help the heart pump blood. Doctors may recommend them for people who are waiting for a transplant. Heart transplant: If no other treatments or surgeries help, a transplant is an option. Medical teams only consider a transplant for a person who is healthy beyond the problem affecting their heart. The life expectancy of someone with congestive heart failure depends on the type of heart failure, the cause, the stage of the disease, and how effective treatment is.

When heart failure results from cardiomyopathy or coronary artery disease, a person typically has a less positive outlook than someone with heart failure in its earliest stage. Congestive heart failure affects millions of people in the U. Doctors cannot always reverse the damage involved, but treatments can provide symptom relief and improve the quality of life.

Read this article in Spanish. What to know about congestive heart failure CHF. Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M. Definitions Stages Causes Symptoms Types Diagnosis Prevention and management Treatments Life expectancy Summary Despite its name, congestive heart failure does not necessarily mean that the heart has stopped working.

Heart failure, heart attack, and cardiac arrest. Share on Pinterest A person with congestive heart failure may have congestion in their lungs. Stages of congestive heart failure. Chambers and valves of the heart Open pop-up dialog box Close. Chambers and valves of the heart A typical heart has two upper and two lower chambers. Enlarged heart, in heart failure Open pop-up dialog box Close. Enlarged heart, in heart failure As the heart weakens, as it can with heart failure, it begins to enlarge, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood on to the rest of the body.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Heart failure. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed Oct. Ferri FF. Heart failure. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Elsevier; Colucci WS. Determining the etiology and severity of heart failure or cardiomyopathy. Evaluation of the patient with suspected heart failure. Heart failure HF. Merck Manual Professional Version.

Vasan RS, et al. Epidemiology and causes of heart failure. Goldman L, et al. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Warning signs of heart failure. American Heart Association. Rakel D, ed. In: Integrative Medicine. Borlaug BA, et al. Treatment and prognosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Tools and Resources. Heart Failure Personal Stories. Heart failure is a term used to describe a heart that cannot keep up with its workload. The body may not get the oxygen it needs. How the normal heart works The normal healthy heart is a strong, muscular pump a little larger than a fist. The heart has four chambers, two on the right and two on the left: Two upper chambers called atria one is called an atrium Two lower chambers called ventricles The right atrium takes in oxygen-depleted blood from the rest of the body and sends it through the right ventricle where the blood becomes oxygenated in the lungs.

What is heart failure? At first the heart tries to make up for this by: Enlarging. The heart stretches to contract more strongly and keep up with the demand to pump more blood.

Over time this causes the heart to become enlarged. For example:. Although the body's ability to compensate for the failing heart initially is beneficial, in the long run these adaptations contribute to the most serious cases of heart failure. Eventually, the heart and body are unable to keep up with the added stress. If patients wait until they experience obvious symptoms of heart failure before seeing a doctor, the condition already may be life-threatening.

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor as soon as possible. UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider. Heart failure is brought on by a variety of underlying diseases and health problems.

Each side has two chambers: An atrium or upper chamber A ventricle or lower chamber Any one of these four chambers may not be able to keep up with the volume of blood flowing through it. Two types of heart dysfunction can lead to heart failure, including: Systolic Heart Failure This is the most common cause of heart failure and occurs when the heart is weak and enlarged.

The muscle of the left ventricle loses some of its ability to contract or shorten. In turn, it may not have the muscle power to pump the amount of oxygenated and nutrient-filled blood the body needs. Diastolic Failure The muscle becomes stiff and loses some of its ability to relax. As a result, the affected chamber has trouble filling with blood during the rest period that occurs between each heartbeat.

Often the walls of the heart thicken, and the size of the left chamber may be normal or reduced. Symptoms People who experience any of the symptoms associated with heart failure, even if they are mild, should consult a doctor as soon as possible.