Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It can result from conditions that weaken the heart muscle such as coronary artery disease or hypertension.
The document defines heart failure and describes its prevalence increasing with age and being higher in males than females aged 40-75. Symptoms of left ventricular failure include breathing difficulties, cough, and leg swelling while right ventricular failure symptoms include abdominal swelling and pain.
Signs include elevated jugular venous pressure, lung crackles, edema, hepatomegaly, and murmurs. Precipitating factors include infection, medications, thyroid issues, and arrhythmias. Diagnostic tests include chest x-ray, echocardiogram