Aging & Health A to Z
Heart Failure
Basic Facts & Information
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure, the leading cause of hospitalizations in people over 65, develops when your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s need for oxygen and nutrients. Sometimes called “congestive heart failure,” this condition usually results from other heart and circulatory conditions that become more common as we age.
Types of Heart Failure
There are two main types of heart failure:
- Diastolic refers to the heart muscle when it is at rest.
- Systolic refers to the heart muscle when it contracts.
Updated: March 2012
Posted: March 2012