What is Heart Failure?
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Many people believe that heart failure means that the heart has stopped or is about to stop, but that's not true.
Heart failure simply means that the heart is not pumping blood through the body as well as it should.
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As the heart’s pumping action weakens, blood backs up into the blood vessels around the lungs and causes seepage of fluid into the lungs. The fluid causes congestion and makes it hard to breathe.
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Sometimes the heart pumping is normal but there is an increase in pressure inside the heart. This can also cause problems with breathing.
Many people with heart failure also have swollen legs and feet. That is why heart failure is sometimes called congestive heart failure.
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