The German Heart Foundation defines heart failure as a decline in the heart's ability to pump blood to the various organs of the body.

The Foundation stated that heart failure has several causes, including high blood pressure, which has not been treated adequately, and heart diseases, such as congenital heart defects, myocarditis and coronary heart disease, in addition to drinking alcohol and drug abuse.

The foundation added that symptoms of heart failure include the following:

  • shortness of breath

  • Pain in the chest area

  • Arrhythmia

  • Water retention in the legs

  • Decreased ability to exert effort and rapid fatigue

  • nocturnal cough

  • Anorexia

  • sudden weight loss

  • dizzy spells

  • Increased urination rates

    • The German Heart Foundation stressed the need to consult a doctor immediately after noticing these symptoms, warning that heart failure in advanced stages may threaten the patient's life.

    Although heart failure is not curable, it is very treatable if diagnosed early.

    The treatment aims to reduce the burden on the heart through high blood pressure-lowering drugs, diuretic drugs, as well as drugs that help control heart rhythms.