Acute heart failure

Information for the public

If you have heart failure, your heart does not pump enough blood to meet all the needs of your body. This is because of damage to the heart muscle, a heart valve not functioning properly, an abnormal heart rhythm or one of the other rarer conditions that could affect heart function. The term 'acute heart failure' is used to describe heart failure that happens suddenly, or the symptoms get so bad that hospital admission is necessary. People who are not known to have heart problems can develop acute heart failure. It can also occur in people with chronic (or long-term) heart failure if their worsening heart condition results in severe symptoms. Heart failure is treatable, and treatment can relieve the symptoms and improve the outcome.

Shortness of breath and swollen lower limbs are the most common symptoms of heart failure. Other symptoms include cough and fatigue. Acute heart failure is a serious condition, and most people diagnosed are admitted to hospital for treatment.