Heart failure means the heart is not pumping as effectively as it should. People may notice breathlessness, fatigue, reduced activity tolerance or swelling in the legs. Early assessment supports safer long-term care.
When to seek review
- Breathlessness on walking or lying flat
- Swelling of the feet, ankles or abdomen
- Persistent fatigue or reduced exercise capacity
- Known heart disease with worsening symptoms
How evaluation usually proceeds
- History, examination and medication review
- ECG, echocardiography and other tests as indicated
- Review of contributing conditions such as blood pressure or coronary disease
Management
Treatment plans are personalised and may include medicines, fluid-balance advice and scheduled follow-up. Acute worsening can be an emergency.
Sudden severe chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or symptoms of a possible heart attack require immediate emergency medical attention. Please call local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. This website does not provide emergency care.