A major public health problem affecting approximately 5 million patients in the U.S.

More than 400,000 new cases occur each year

The hospitalization rate rose

130% from 377,000 in 1979
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To 872,000 in 1995
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The 5 year mortality rate is about 50%
According to the Department of quality and utilization data




Heart Failure

Conditions that commonly cause
Heart Failure


Coronary Artery Disease
 Heart Attack
 Diabetes
 COPD
 Kidney Disease
 HTN
 High Cholesterol
 Anemia

Signs Of Heart Failure
 Shortness of breath or

inability to breathe lying down.
 Sudden weight gain:

2-3 lbs/day or 5 lbs or more in a week.
 Swelling of

feet, legs, ankles, or abdomen.
 Side effects from medications
 Irregular heart rate.

When Heart failure The heart can’t move as much blood as it should with each beat.
Occurs
This causes blood to back up into the lungs and throughout the body.
Certain organs don’t get enough blood to work normally,

How The Heart Works
The heart pumps blood to the lungs




The blood receives oxygen

Oxygen-rich blood travels back to the heart



Pumps oxygenated blood to the organs, limbs, brain, and other parts of the body.




The body uses up the oxygenated blood






Returns the blood to the heart
The process then starts over again

How The Heart Pumps Blood


The heart muscle must pump enough blood with each beat to keep the body healthy.


Blood coming to the heart enters the atria


The atria contract to pump blood into the ventricles






The ventricles contract

Blood is pumped out of the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body 

The process starts again with the next heartbeat.

As Blood Flow Decreases


The heart works harder




and pumps faster

The heart muscles enlarge




Over time

The extra work damages the heart

When Your Body Gets Less
Blood

 Fluid backs up in the lungs and throughout the body
 Organs get less oxygen

Brain may receive less blood
 Confusion and dizziness may develop
 Lungs may fill with fluid
 Causing shortness of breath
 Kidneys may not be able to rid body of excess fluid

and can back up in other parts of the