Oregon Heart Failure Guide

What is heart failure? Heart failure is a term used to describe a heart that cannot keep up with its workload.

Your body depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen and blood to your body’s cells. When the cells are nourished properly, your body can function normally. If you have heart failure, your body may not get the oxygen it needs.

The term “heart failure” makes it sound like the heart is no longer working at all and there’s nothing that can be done. Actually, heart failure means that the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that needs timely medical attention because of fluid built up around the heart, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably.

With heart failure, the heart can’t supply your cells with enough blood. This results in feeling tired and having shortness of breath, and sometimes coughing. Everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs or carrying groceries can be very difficult.

Thanks to support from OHSU, we've created this guide of heart failure resources for Oregonians. Check back often as we continue to add more tools and information.