Heart Failure Section

Heart Failure is a condition where the heart muscle has become weakened and is unable to pump blood around the body as efficiently as before.  

The symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness, chest discomfort or chest tightness during exertion, swollen feet or ankles, tiredness and exhaustion, and palpitations (a sensation that your heart is pounding or racing).  Although heart failure is not curable, there are treatments which help to manage these symptoms.

The information in this information journey has been adapted from the Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland leaflet "Living with heart failure".

The following diagram represents the stages of an example patient journey for someone who suffers from heart failure.  You can find out more about each stage by clicking on each circle.

Last updated: 09/09/2010