What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a complex chronic, progressive condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively throughout the body, leading to insufficient oxygen delivery to vital organs and tissues. This condition can stem from a variety of underlying health issues, not just heart disease. Various conditions such as high blood pressure, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease/prior heart attack, familial inheritance/genetics and several other reasons can contribute to heart failure. Your heart team will partner with you and your family to determine a reason for your heart failure diagnosis, which can assist with targeted treatment, management, and advanced therapies.
The heart's inability to circulate blood properly results in symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, chronic cough, the inability to tolerate laying down flat, fatigue and swelling in the abdomen, legs or feet associated with rapid weight gain. While heart failure is a serious condition and can significantly impact your quality of life, early detection, lifestyle changes, and appropriate medical interventions can help manage symptoms, improve quality of life and ideally enhance overall heart function.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Heart Failure?
Heart failure can develop as a result of other heart conditions that gradually weaken or damage the heart’s ability to function properly. Major contributors to heart failure include:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) – This condition occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow and potentially leading to heart damage.
- High blood pressure (hypertension) – Chronic high blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood, which can lead to the heart muscle thickening and/or weakening over time.
- Diabetes – Diabetes increases the risk of heart failure due to its impact on damage to the blood vessels and high blood sugar levels can contribute to other heart-related conditions.
- Previous heart attack (myocardial infarction) – Damage from a past heart attack can weaken areas of the heart, causing scar tissue to form, making it harder for the heart to pump effectively.
- Heart valve disorders – When one or more heart valves fail to open or close properly, the heart must work harder, potentially leading to heart failure over time.
- Endocarditis/myocarditis – This is an infection of heart valves or heart muscle.
While heart failure can affect different people for different reasons, certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing heart failure. These include:
- Age – The risk of heart failure increases with age, particularly in individuals over 65, as the heart muscle can naturally weaken over time.
- Lifestyle – Smoking, drug use, sedentary behavior, poor diet (especially one high in sodium, fat, and sugar), and excessive alcohol consumption are all lifestyle factors that elevate risk.
- Coexisting health conditions – Conditions like diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and sleep apnea are closely linked to heart failure as they put added strain on the cardiovascular system.
- Family history – A family history of heart disease increases the likelihood of developing heart failure due to genetic and hereditary factors.
Why Early Detection Matters
Timely diagnosis is a crucial first step in the treatment and management of heart failure in order to reduce the chance of progression to more advanced stages. When left untreated, heart failure can lead to a cascade of severe complications, such as multi-system organ damage, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and even life-threatening events including stroke and sudden cardiac death.
Early detection of heart failure allows your healthcare providers, utilizing a patient-centered, shared decision-making model of care, to implement a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan will combine heart failure therapies, including medications, with lifestyle modification, such as heart-healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, and weight management. The goal is to improve symptoms, quality of life, slow the disease progression, extend life and decrease hospitalizations.
Heart failure medical therapy includes medications that potentially could help provide complete heart recovery. This includes but is not limited to:
- Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors like Lisinopril, Enalapril / Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) like Losartan, Valsartan / Angiotensin Neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) like Entresto
- Beta-blockers (BBs) like Metoprolol, Bisoprolol, and Carvedilol
- Mineral corticoid receptor agonists (MRAs) like Spironolactone or Eplerenone
- Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors such as Jardiance or Farxiga
Other medical therapies include diuretics (water pills) such as Furosemide or Bumetanide, Metolazone, and other medications that may improve symptoms.
Regular close follow-up and extensive patient education allow you to actively participate in managing your heart condition. Engaging in programs like cardiac rehabilitation, remote device monitoring services, tracking daily weights, fluid and salt intake, regularly taking your prescribed medications, and paying attention to your symptom changes are just some of the ways patients can both participate and improve quality of life, reduce the likelihood of complications, including heart failure hospitalizations, and extend life.
Heart failure patients can live a normal life with good quality under close treatment and supervision of an advanced heart failure cardiologist, though progression of disease can often be expected.
Symptoms and Warning Signs of Heart Failure
Heart failure symptoms vary depending on the type and severity of the condition, but common signs include:
- Shortness of breath (when lying down, during activity or while resting)
- Activity intolerance, fatigue and weakness
- Swelling in the abdomen, hips, legs, ankles and feet leading to rapid weight gain
- Persistent cough or wheezing
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
It is crucial to seek prompt medical attention if you experience symptoms such as sudden or severe shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, or a rapid heartbeat. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to preventing these symptoms from worsening and improving quality of life.
Medical Therapies
Advanced stages of heart failure can be treated with more specialized care in collaboration with Tampa General Hospital – Main campus on Davis Island in Tampa Florida. These include:
- Mechanical circulatory support such as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs)
- Intravenous infusion medications to improve heart pumping function like Milrinone and Dobutamine
- Evaluation for candidacy for heart transplantation
- Implantation of cardio-mems which can closely and remotely monitor fluid volume status
- Implantation of baro-stimulation device which can improve quality of life and symptoms
- Evaluation for candidacy for enrollment in our various ongoing clinic trials
- Enrollment in our specialty clinics: cardiac amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, sarcoid clinic that offers patients targeted evaluation and treatment
Preventative Strategies
Reducing your risk of heart failure involves a proactive approach that combines lifestyle changes, regular medical care and early intervention for any contributing health conditions. Taking preventative steps can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease and slow or reduce the progression of heart failure. Key preventative strategies include:
- Maintaining balanced nutrition rich in vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, fruit, and whole grains.
- Engaging in regular physical activity, including both resistance and aerobic activities.
- Managing blood pressure and cholesterol through lifestyle changes, and if recommended by your doctor, the use of certain medications.
- Avoiding tobacco, marijuana, drug use, and limiting alcohol consumption to avoid further damage to the heart and blood vessels.
- Maintaining a healthy weight, as excess weight makes it harder for the heart to function effectively.
- Managing stress with techniques like mindfulness, meditation and deep breathing exercises
- Obtaining adequate amounts of sleep.
- Controlling comorbid health conditions with proper follow up with your primary care provider or family physician
Testing & Diagnosis for Heart Failure
Diagnosing heart failure involves a thorough evaluation to identify symptoms, contributing lifestyle risk factors and underlying medical disorders that can contribute to heart dysfunction. A comprehensive medical assessment typically includes a detailed review of your symptoms, medical, social and family history, and a thorough physical exam. Your healthcare provider may recommend various diagnostic tools to obtain a clearer picture of your heart health, including but not limited to:
- An echocardiogram is an ultrasound-based test that evaluates the heart's structure and function by creating moving images of the heart. It can detect how well the heart pumps blood (ejection fraction), the condition of the valves and any structural abnormalities. It is one of the most common tests used to diagnose and monitor heart failure.
- An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the heart's electrical activity and can detect irregular heart rhythms, signs of previous heart damage or other electrical abnormalities that may indicate heart disease.
- Blood work can provide critical insights into heart function. For example, tests for brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) measure levels of hormones released when the heart is under stress, indicating the presence and severity of heart failure. Additional blood tests may assess kidney and liver function, electrolytes, and other markers of cardiovascular health.
- A chest X-ray is an imaging test that may reveal fluid buildup within the lungs (pulmonary congestion) or an enlarged heart, both of which are common signs of heart failure.
- A stress test evaluates your functional capacity and how well the heart works during physical exertion and can help identify coronary artery disease.
- A wearable heart monitor evaluates your heart rhythm to assess for any underlying electrical conduction system disorders and/or life threatening arrythmias.
Collectively, these tests can help your healthcare provider understand how effectively your heart is functioning, identify muscle damage, and tailor an appropriate treatment plan.
Collectively, these tests can help your healthcare provider understand how effectively your heart is functioning, identify muscle damage, and tailor an appropriate treatment plan.
Support Systems and Resources
Living with heart failure requires a proactive and informed approach to daily life. While the condition is chronic and often progressive, many patients can maintain a good quality of life through consistent medical care, lifestyle adjustments, and support systems. At Tampa General Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute, we emphasize patient education and empowerment as essential components of long-term heart failure management.
Patients are encouraged to take an active role in their care by monitoring symptoms, adhering to prescribed medications, and maintaining regular follow-up appointments. Daily habits such as tracking weight, limiting sodium and fluid intake, and recognizing early warning signs of fluid retention or worsening symptoms can help prevent hospitalizations and complications. Participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs and remote monitoring services can further enhance outcomes by providing structured support and real-time feedback.
Emotional and mental well-being are also critical aspects of living with heart failure. It is common for patients to experience anxiety, depression, or feelings of isolation. TGH offers access to mental health professionals, social workers, and support groups to help patients and their families navigate the emotional challenges of chronic illness. These resources are designed to foster resilience, reduce stress, and promote a sense of community and understanding.
Caregivers play a vital role in supporting patients with heart failure. TGH provides caregiver education and resources to ensure they are equipped to assist with medication management, symptom tracking, and emergency preparedness. Our team also helps connect families with community services and respite care options when needed.
Ultimately, living with heart failure is about partnership—between the patient, their loved ones, and a dedicated healthcare team. With the right tools, education, and support, patients can lead meaningful lives while managing their condition effectively.
The TGH Difference in Heart Failure Care
At Tampa General Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute and Heart Failure Center of Excellence, our cardiology team provides world-class, specialized care to manage heart failure. Our dedication to providing unmatched care helped us earn U.S. News & World Report’s recognition as One of the Nation's Best Hospitals for Heart & Vascular care in 2024-25, as well as special recognition as a High Performing Hospital for Heart Failure and Heart Attack Care for 2024-25. And we are the only hospital in the Tampa Bay region recognized by Becker's Hospital Review on its list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs.
From early detection and lifestyle modification to advanced interventions like LVAD implantation and heart transplantation, TGH offers a full spectrum of heart failure treatments to support patients in achieving better health outcomes.
For more information on our heart failure program, reach out to TGH Brooksville Heart Failure Clinic (352) 576-5379 and schedule a consultation with one of our expert cardiologists.
FAQs
How do I prepare for my first heart failure clinic visit?
Bring a list of your current medications, recent test results (if available), and a summary of your medical history. It’s also helpful to write down your symptoms, questions, and concerns ahead of time.
Will I need to stay overnight for testing or treatment?
Most initial consultation and needed diagnostic testing can be done on an outpatient basis. Some of the testing can be completed at Tampa General Brooksville or at other local community imaging centers. However, some of the necessary testing to determine if advanced therapies are needed is completed at Tampa General Hospital Main. Your care team will discuss whether this testing may also require a hospital stay.
What support is available for caregivers of heart failure patients?
TGH offers caregiver education, support groups, and access to social workers and case managers who can help coordinate care, transportation, and community resources. Click here to see upcoming support group classes or events.
How do I know if I’m eligible for advanced therapies like LVAD or transplant?
Eligibility is determined through a comprehensive evaluation by our multidisciplinary team. This includes reviewing your medical history, current heart function, and overall health to determine the best treatment path.
What should I do if my symptoms suddenly get worse?
If you experience sudden weight gain, increased shortness of breath, chest pain, or swelling, contact your care team immediately. In emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Are there financial counselors or insurance coordinators available?
Yes. TGH provides financial counseling and insurance navigation services to help you understand your coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and available financial assistance programs.
TGH Brooksville Financial Assistance – (352) 576-5336
TGH Crystal River Financial Assistance - (352) 576-5628
TGH Spring Hill Financial Assistance - (352) 576-5520
How often will I need follow-up visits?
Follow-up frequency depends on your condition and treatment plan. Initially, visits may be more frequent to monitor your response to therapy, then spaced out as your condition stabilizes.