Congestive Heart Failure Overview

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, means your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Any number of underlying heart conditions can lead to heart failure. Over time, conditions such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure gradually sap your heart of its strength, leaving it too weak or too stiff to pump efficiently.

Your best defense against heart failure is to prevent or control risk factors and aggressively manage any underlying conditions such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity.