Definitions for "Heart failure"
When the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
heart failure (also known as congestive heart failure): an inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the body, resulting in fluid accumulation in the lungs and other parts of the body. This condition often develops over a period of years, or may result from damage to the heart muscle caused by a heart attack.
Inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood (or cardiac output) to the body and/or the lungs. Heart failure can affect either the right ventricle or the left ventricle or both. As a result, blood backs up in the blood vessels leading to that ventricle and the vessels become congested with blood. Failure of the right ventricle (or right heart failure) leads to blood backing up in the liver and legs. Failure of the left ventricle (or left heart failure) leads to blood backing up in the lungs. This may then lead to right heart failure. Sometimes the term congestive heart failure (CHF) is used to describe left heart failure.