Heart failure or congestive health failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood throughout the body. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped or is about to stop working, but rather that the heart is not able to pump blood as efficiently as it should.

Heart failure can cause:

• blood and fluid to back up into the lungs

• buildup of fluid in the feet, ankles and legs (edema)

• tiredness and shortness of breath

Heart failure is a progressive, chronic disease with substantial risk for mortality in the short term. However, better processes of care in hospitals may reduce the risk for death (mortality) from heart failure.