SAEM Cardiovascular (CV) Practice Test

Heart failure is defined as a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This can result from various underlying issues, such as weakened heart muscle (systolic dysfunction) or stiffened heart muscle (diastolic dysfunction), leading to insufficient oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues and organs.

In heart failure, the heart may still be beating, but it is not effectively pumping blood. Symptoms often include fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention due to the body's compensatory mechanisms trying to maintain adequate circulation despite the heart's impaired function.

Understanding this definition is crucial, as it encompasses the complexity of the condition—acknowledging that heart failure is not merely about the heart's rate or size, but fundamentally about its pumping ability and the consequences of its inadequacy on overall health.