WHAT IS HEART FAILURE?
Heart failure is a life-threatening, yet potentially treatable condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly. This can happen when the heart has become too weak or stiff.
It’s a long-term condition which tends to get worse over time, therefore the heart requires support to keep blood flowing. It cannot be cured, but the symptoms in lots of cases can be controlled for many years if diagnosed in the early stages.1
No! It’s a common misconception that ‘heart failure’ and ‘heart attack’ are two names for the same thing, and while they do share some common causes, they are in fact different.
Most heart attacks happen suddenly, when one of the arteries leading to the heart becomes blocked and cuts off the blood flow. This means the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen and starts to become damaged. While heart attacks are usually sudden, heart failure tends to develop gradually.
Heart failure can be a long-term (chronic) condition that can gradually get worse, however there are treatments that can help to slow progression and improve the quality of life for people living with heart failure.2
Heart failure can develop for a number of reasons, the most common causes are heart attacks, hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle).4 Other reasons can include:4
You should seek medical support if you’ve noticed any of the symptoms associated with heart failure. If you’re already diagnosed, you should seek support if you notice any deterioration or change in your symptoms.
References
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Fighting Failure is a disease awareness campaign that has been developed and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.
© 2023 Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited is a private limited liability company registered in England and Wales under number 119006 Registered office 2nd Floor, The WestWorks Building, White City Place, 195 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FQ.
Reporting side effects
If you get side-effects with any medication you are taking, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the information leaflet that comes in the pack. You can report side effects via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ (UK). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of your medication.
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Fighting Failure is a disease awareness campaign that has been developed and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.
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