Congestive heart failure is a condition in which heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet the need of the body. The condition can have various cause, one of them is weak heart muscle. 

The condition is life threatening but proper treatment and lifestyle changes may help the patient to live a longer life. In severe cases one may need a heart transplant or a device to restore the pumping ability of the heart. 

There are four stages involved in heart failures. 

Stage A– It indicates that you can get heart failure in near future. Various medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, family history are the required parameters using which stage A is classified.  

Stage B- In this stage left ventricle is not working properly but the individual has no symptoms at all. 

Stage C– There is a heart failure as well as symptoms are present.  

Stage D- It indicates a reduced ejection fraction and significant symptoms that does not improve even after taking medications.

Heart failure can be of different types 

Left-sided heart failure– left side of the heart is responsible for receiving oxygen-rich blood from the lungs which is then delivered to the rest of the body parts. This type of heart failure is a condition in which left side of the heart stops performing its function appropriately. 

Risk factors involved in it are  

Coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, older age, sleep apnea, diabetes, obesity and abnormal heart rhythms. 

Symptoms of this failure involves shortness of breath, weight gain, swelling in ankles and legs. 

Right-sided heart failure-Right side of the heart is responsible for receiving poor oxygenated blood from the body and deliver it to the lungs where blood is oxygenated. In right sided heart failure, which is also known as right ventricular heart failure the right side of the heart does not perform its task properly. 

Symptoms of right sided heart failure includes chest pain, palpitation, swelling in feet, ankles and legs, swelling in lower back, breathlessness, chest pain,nauses, appetite loss. 

Risk factors include CAD, High blood pressure or a previous heart attack.  

High-output heart failure-It is a rare condition. Unlike other heart failures where cardiac output is normal or sometimes is below normal level in high-output heart failure the cardiac out is more than the normal quantity. 

Symptoms of high output heart failure involves 

• Fatigue as the oxygen demand of the body is not fulfilled due to poor circulation to the body. 
• Tachycardia-a condition in which the heart rhythm is normal, but heart rate is more than 100.  
• Palpitations-it is a condition in which one is always aware of his/her heartbeat 
• Shortness of breath- in heart failure oxygen demand is not fulfilled which may stimulate shortness of breathing.  

Causes of high output heart failure include liver disease, severe anemia, lung disease, etc. 

What are the other health problems which can appear due to heart-failure? 

• It can damage your liver. 
• Your kidney is at higher risk of malfunctioning. 
• Sudden cardiac arrest. 
• Collection of fluid in lungs. 
• Irregular heartbeats. 
• Heart valve problems. 

Diagnosis of congestive heart failure. 

Multiple parameters are involved in the diagnosis of heart failure. Your healthcare provider will take details about your symptoms and may discuss about the risk factors involved. If you fall under any category of risk factor, then you will be asked to go through some other tests like Blood tests, ECG, 2d-Echo, stress test, heart MRI, etc. 

Management of heart failure. 

It can be managed by taking healthy diets, being physically active, taking medications properly, and by seeking immediate medical help if one experiences a sudden increased discomfort.