Not enough blood is circulated to meet the needs of the rest of the body. Heart failure does not correct itself, but a person may live a long time with a failing heart. When heart muscle has been damaged by an underlying disorder, the heart's ability to contract and push out blood to the rest of the body is weakened. The heart also has difficulty filling up with blood between contractions.
Blood then accumulates in the veins leading to the heart.
The veins become overloaded and fluid seeps out into other body organs and tissues. There are a number of conditions that can weaken or damage heart muscle. When blood pressure is high, the heart has to pump harder to work against the pressure. This causes the heart to enlarge and its muscle tissue to weaken. Coronary artery disease is another common cause of heart failure.