Heart failure, also known as cardiac myopathy, means the heart isn’t pumping blood as well as it should. Imagine the heart is like a pump that pushes blood through the body. In heart failure, this pump is weaker than normal or has trouble filling with blood.

Here are some key points to help you understand:

1. What It Is: Heart failure happens when the heart can’t pump blood well enough to meet the body’s needs. This can happen because the heart muscle is too weak or because the heart has become stiff and doesn’t fill with blood properly.
2. Causes: Heart failure can be caused by conditions that damage the heart muscle, like a heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes, or certain infections.
3. Symptoms: People with heart failure might feel very tired, have trouble breathing (especially when lying down), and experience swelling in their legs, ankles, or feet. They might also feel their heart beating irregularly or very fast.
4. How It Affects Daily Life: Heart failure can make everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries very difficult because the body isn’t getting enough oxygen and nutrients from the blood.
5. Treatment: There are treatments that can help manage heart failure, including medications that help the heart pump better, lifestyle changes like eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising, and sometimes medical procedures or surgeries.
6. Living with Heart Failure: It’s important for someone with heart failure to follow their doctor’s advice, take their medications, and monitor their symptoms. With proper management, many people with heart failure can still lead active and fulfilling lives.