Heart failure is the term used to describe the state of a patient whose
heart is not pumping adequately. The consequences of this is the
accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary congestion or oedema) or in
the legs (ankle oedema).
Some diseases directly weaken the strength of the heart muscle. This
condition is called cardiomyopathy. Loss of too much muscle as a result of
previous heart attacks, or the strain of an increased mechanical work-load as
from valve disease can also weaken the heart. Sometimes heart failure can
be cured by the correction of the cause; even if it cannot, the symptoms can
be greatly improved by appropriate tablets.