Heart failure describes a condition in which the heart fails to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure usually develops over time due to conditions that interfere with the normal flow of blood through the heart. When the heart fails to supply the rest of the body with oxygenated blood, it affects the other organs and, therefore, exacerbates the symptoms of heart failure and results in serious complications.
Symptoms
Although the symptoms of heart failure can vary depending on the cause and type of heart failure and the side of the heart most affected, most patients experience fatigue.
The right side of the heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. Right sided heart failure therefore causes blood to back up into the tissues in the body resulting in edema---a condition characterized by swelling---in the feet, ankles, legs, liver and abdomen, according to the Merck Manual. Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite leading to weight loss.
The left side of the heart receives oxygenate blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. Left sided heart failure causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs therefore causing shortness of breath---the feeling of not getting enough air. Additional symptoms include persistent cough and irregular heartbeat.
Blood Pressure Effects
Heart failure causes blood pressure to decrease. And to increase blood pressure to help keep blood flowing through the body, the kidneys increase the volume of blood by retaining salt and water instead of excreting it in urine. The increased volume of blood stretches the heart muscle enlarging the ventricles in the heart, according to the Merck Manual. Although this helps the heart contract more forcefully at first, over time it weakens the heart making the heart failure worse, thereby exacerbating the current symptoms.
Fluid Retention Effects
Heart failure causes fluid to accumulate throughout the body, including in the liver. The added pressure in the liver causes scar tissue to form, which affects the ability of the liver to function. In cases of chronic and severe right-sided heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver may develop, thereby exacerbating the symptoms of weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Effect on Lungs
Severe heart failure can cause the sudden accumulation of fluid in the lungs, a condition known as acute pulmonary edema. This exacerbates the shortness of breath, leading to extreme difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, bluish skin, anxiety and suffocation.
Outlook
Heart failure, which affects one in every 100 people, can cause sudden and unexpected death even without the worsening of symptoms, according to the Merck Manual. Although treatments and lifestyle changes can help people with heart failure to live for many years, the Merck Manual reports that approximately 70 percent will die within 10 years.
