Congestive heart failure or CHF is a general term used for a condition in which your heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the basic needs of the body. You should not mistake it with cardiac arrest, which causes the heart to stop functioning completely. The condition would be either chronic or acute, depending on the underlying causes. If left untreated, it would lead to many serious or even fatal complications. Keep reading this guide to learn basic information about this health issue, along with its stages and life expectancy.
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
Congestive heart failure is a chronic progressive disease that prevents heart muscles from pumping blood as usual. Your heart is divided into 4 chambers: two atria on the top and two ventricles on the bottom. This condition occurs when the ventricles cannot function properly. As a result, fluids and blood would back up and accumulate in many parts of your body, such as the liver, abdomen, lungs, and other lower regions. Congestive heart failure can be fatal. Therefore, immediate medical treatments are necessary to prevent further complications. [1]
