When to get medical advice

See your GP if you experience persistent or gradually worsening symptoms of heart failure.

Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department as soon as possible if you have sudden or very severe symptoms.

A number of tests can be used to help check how well your heart is working, including blood tests an electrocardiogram (ECG)

Causes of heart failure

Heart failure is often the result of a number of problems affecting the heart at the same time.

Conditions that can lead to heart failure include:

coronary heart disease– where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become clogged up with fatty substances (atherosclerosis), which may cause angina or a heart attack

high blood pressure – this can put extra strain on the heart, which over time can lead to heart failure

cardiomyopathy– conditions affecting the heart muscle

• heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) – such as atrial fibrillation
• damage or other problems with the heart valves
• congenital heart disease– birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart Sometimes anaemia, excessive alcohol consumption, an overactive thyroid, or high pressure in the lungs(pulmonary hypertension)can also lead to heart failure.