In brief
A condition in which the heart is not pumping blood to the rest of the body as well as it should. The heart can become enlarged, weak or stiff.
- If heart failure symptoms get worse, see your health care team quickly, according to the Heart Foundation.
- Heart failure is one of the complications of high blood pressure.
- Research on CoQ10 supplements in heart failure is inconclusive, according to NCCIH.
How it works
Symptoms include shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, swollen ankles, legs or abdomen, and tiredness. The most common causes are heart attack and coronary heart disease. Others include high blood pressure, faulty heart valves, damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), which can be caused by infection, alcohol abuse and some medications, heart rhythm problems, and chronic conditions such as diabetes and thyroid conditions.
Medicines for heart failure include ACE inhibitors, ARBs, ARNIs, beta blockers, MRAs (aldosterone blockers), SGLT2 inhibitors and diuretics. Regular physical activity and cardiac rehabilitation are also recommended. People with heart failure have a higher risk of abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation.
Connections
10 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.
Heart failure can be caused by
Heart failure is one of the possible complications of COPD.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Heart attack and coronary heart disease are the most common causes of heart failure.
High blood pressure is one of the causes of heart failure.
Sources: Heart Foundation, What is heart failure?; healthdirect Australia, High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart failure can cause
Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, is a symptom of heart failure.
Heart failure can cause swollen ankles, legs or abdomen.
Sources: Heart Foundation, What is heart failure?; healthdirect Australia, Fluid retention
Heart failure is linked with
Heart failure is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, and people with heart failure have a higher risk of abnormal rhythms such as atrial fibrillation.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Atrial fibrillation; Heart Foundation, What is heart failure?
Heart failure affects
In heart failure the heart is not pumping blood to the rest of the body as well as it should.
Heart failure can be raised by
- Alcohol Supported
Alcohol abuse can damage the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), one of the causes of heart failure.
Heart failure can be eased by
- Physical activity Supported
Regular physical activity and cardiac rehabilitation are part of looking after heart failure.
Heart failure has been studied with
- Coenzyme Q10 Emerging
Research on the effects of CoQ10 in heart failure is inconclusive.
Source: NIH NCCIH, Coenzyme Q10
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.
Summarised from the Heart Foundation. Sources read on 13, 16 and 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.