Synching The Heart Congestive heart failure is a weakening of the heart muscle. In early stages, the heart enlarges and beats faster. But the enlarged heart can t pump efficiently. Blood flowing out of the heart slows, causing blood coming into the heart to back up in the veins. This causes swelling of the tissues, most commonly in the legs and ankles and sometimes in the lungs.
Patients feel weak, tired, or short of breath.
Eventually, even moderate activities, such as taking a walk or climbing stairs become difficult. The American Heart Association estimates five million Americans are now living with heart failure and about 550,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. Although it's more common among older people, the condition can occur at any age. Many congestive heart failure patients have electrical problems which cause the heart to pump in an unorganized fashion. In severe cases, patients may need a heart transplant.