Congestive Heart Failure

 Congestive heart failure (CHF), commonly called heart failure, is a chronic condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as the body needs. This does not mean that the heart has stopped working. Instead, the heart may be too weak or stiff to properly fill with or pump blood throughout the body.

When the heart cannot keep up with the body's needs, blood and fluid can back up in the lungs and other parts of the body. This may cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, swelling in the legs or ankles, fatigue, difficulty exercising, and rapid weight gain from fluid retention.

Heart failure is a serious condition, but symptoms can often be managed through medications, lifestyle changes, monitoring, and regular follow-up with a healthcare provider.