Heart failure sounds frightening, but doctors
actually use the term to describe all the situations where the heart cannot
keep up with the demands made on it by the body. Heart failure is uncommon
in people under the age of 50.
The principal cause of heart failure in the over-50s is a heart attack,
which weakens the heart and impairs its pumping ability. If the heart fails
to pump enough blood, this can cause, among other symptoms, breathlessness,
swollen ankles and tiredness. Heart failure is treatable and with medical
help the heart can generally manage well enough.
Dr John G.F. Cleland: After extensive training
Dr Cleland was funded by the British Heart Foundation to continue his research
at the University of Glasgow’s Research Initiative in Heart Failure.
He is currently Chairman of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the
European
Society of Cardiology.
