What is Heart Failure?

So you've been diagnosed with heart failure. But what exactly does that mean?

First off, let me just say, I am not a doctor. As such, I am going to refer to experts in this post.

Heart Failure Defined

"Basically, the heart can't keep up with its workload."

The American Heart Associate (AHA) defines heart failure like this: "Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can’t keep up with its workload." (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure)

Compensation

Our body is efficient. For better or worse it tries to compensate when a part of it is not working correctly. The AHA describes 3 main ways our heart tries to compensate: enlarging, developing more muscle mass, pumping faster. Other ways it tries to compensate are, narrowing blood vessels to keep blood pressure up, and diverting blood away from less important tissues and organs. (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure)

These are big reasons you need to be seen by a health care professional as soon as possible.

Again, the American Heart Association has some great resources. Please check out their website to find a wealth of information, resources, and support. It is one of the few websites that has been helpful for me.