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| Heart Failure Heart failure is a cardiac condition, that occurs when a problem with the structure or function of the heart impairs its ability to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. Heart failure should not be confused with cardiac arrest. It can cause a large variety of symptoms (chiefly shortness of breath and ankle swelling) but some patients can be completely symptom free. Heart failure is often undiagnosed due to a lack of a universally agreed definition and challenges in definitive diagnosis, particularly in early stage. With appropriate therapy, heart failure can be managed in the majority of patients, but it is a potentially life threatening condition, and progressive disease is associated with an annual mortality of 10%.It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. |