Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsHow It OccursDiagnosisTreatmentFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
How It Occurs
Diagnosis
Treatment
FAQs
Heart failureis a condition where your heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet all your body’s needs. When heart failure becomes severe enough to cause symptoms requiring immediate medical treatment, it is called decompensated heart failure (DHF).
On the other hand, if you have heart failure but your heart is still functioning well enough that you don’t have symptoms, you have compensated heart failure.
DHF can be acute (newly developed without a previous diagnosis) or the result of an exacerbation (period when symptoms become worse) of already present heart failure.
Verywell / Daniel Fishel
Legedema(swelling) and coughing at night are also very common symptoms of DHF.
Other symptoms that may occur with DHF include:
What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
How DHF Occurs
The most common cause of DHF is not following your heart failure treatment plan. For example, eating a diet high in salt or taking medications improperly.
For new-onset heart failure, common causes include:
For worsening of previously diagnosed heart failure, common causes include:
What Are the Best Foods for High Blood Pressure?
New-Onset Heart Failure
In new-onset heart failure, patients will typically show no signs of heart failure beforehand. The condition is usually diagnosed during another health crisis, such as a heart attack, acute high blood pressure, ormitral valveprolapse, an improper closure of the valve between the heart’s upper and lower left chambers.
Exacerbation of Chronic Heart Failure
With an exacerbation, symptoms may appear either suddenly or gradually in patients who have already been diagnosed with heart failure.Most cases of DHF are a result of exacerbations.
What Is a CHF Exacerbation and How Do I Manage It?
If heart failure is suspected after a physical exam, your healthcare provider will order tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Pulse Oximetry
Pulse oximetrymeasures the oxygen levels in your blood. Normal levels are between 90% and 100%. If you have heart failure levels below 90%, your organs and cells are not getting enough oxygen to function properly.
Lab Tests
Your doctor may order the following tests:
What Causes Electrolyte Imbalance and How to Treat It
Imaging
Your doctor may also order the following imaging tests:
Are My Symptoms From COPD, Heart Failure, or Both?
The goal of any treatment plan for DHF is to stabilize the symptoms to prevent further damage to the heart and preserve kidney function.
The type of treatment you receive depends on whether your heart failure is acute or an exacerbation:
How Many People Survive a Heart Attack?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can someone live if they have decompensated heart failure?
The life expectancy of someone with decompensated heart failure depends on their age, sex, and any other chronic conditions they have. With aggressive treatment, people with DHF can often live many years of productive life.
What is the difference between compensated and decompensated heart failure?
In compensated heart failure, symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and edema are stable or absent. In decompensated heart failure, those symptoms are worse, to the point where medical attention is required.
Should you avoid taking beta blockers with decompensated heart failure?
While beta blockers have been a mainstay of therapy for many kinds of heart failure, they are not used during an episode of DHF. However, once a patient has been treated and stabilized, and shows no more signs of fluid retention, beta blockers are often recommended. Your healthcare provider will decide if beta blockers are right for you based on your health history.
Summary
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mangini S, Pires PV, Braga FGM, Bacal F.Decompensated heart failure.Einstein (Sao Paulo).2013;11(3):383-391. doi:10.1590/s1679-45082013000300022Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shortness of breath.National Institutes of Health.Heart failure: fluids and diuretics.Patel Y, Joseph J.Sodium intake and heart failure.Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(24). doi:10.3390/ijms21249474Page RL, O’Bryant CL, Cheng D, et al.Drugs that may cause or exacerbate heart failure.Circulation. 2016;134(6):e32-e69. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000426National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is arrhythmia?.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is heart inflammation?.Cleveland Clinic.How alcohol affects your heart.American Heart Association.Peripartum cardiomyopathy.Ramachandran G, Prasad CHRK, Garre S, Sundar AS.Oxygen management in heart failure patients.Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology. Published online March 2, 2022:263246362210815. doi:10.1177/26324636221081585Gaggin HK, Januzzi JL.Cardiac biomarkers and heart failure. American College of Cardiology.MedlinePlus.Electrolyte panel.National Kidney Foundation.Coping with chronic kidney disease: “Being an advocate saved my life.“Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012Alter DA, Ko DT, Tu JV, et al.The average lifespan of patients discharged from hospital with heart failure.J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27(9):1171-1179. doi: 10.1007/s11606-012-2072-y
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mangini S, Pires PV, Braga FGM, Bacal F.Decompensated heart failure.Einstein (Sao Paulo).2013;11(3):383-391. doi:10.1590/s1679-45082013000300022Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shortness of breath.National Institutes of Health.Heart failure: fluids and diuretics.Patel Y, Joseph J.Sodium intake and heart failure.Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(24). doi:10.3390/ijms21249474Page RL, O’Bryant CL, Cheng D, et al.Drugs that may cause or exacerbate heart failure.Circulation. 2016;134(6):e32-e69. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000426National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is arrhythmia?.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is heart inflammation?.Cleveland Clinic.How alcohol affects your heart.American Heart Association.Peripartum cardiomyopathy.Ramachandran G, Prasad CHRK, Garre S, Sundar AS.Oxygen management in heart failure patients.Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology. Published online March 2, 2022:263246362210815. doi:10.1177/26324636221081585Gaggin HK, Januzzi JL.Cardiac biomarkers and heart failure. American College of Cardiology.MedlinePlus.Electrolyte panel.National Kidney Foundation.Coping with chronic kidney disease: “Being an advocate saved my life.“Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012Alter DA, Ko DT, Tu JV, et al.The average lifespan of patients discharged from hospital with heart failure.J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27(9):1171-1179. doi: 10.1007/s11606-012-2072-y
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mangini S, Pires PV, Braga FGM, Bacal F.Decompensated heart failure.Einstein (Sao Paulo).2013;11(3):383-391. doi:10.1590/s1679-45082013000300022Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shortness of breath.National Institutes of Health.Heart failure: fluids and diuretics.Patel Y, Joseph J.Sodium intake and heart failure.Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(24). doi:10.3390/ijms21249474Page RL, O’Bryant CL, Cheng D, et al.Drugs that may cause or exacerbate heart failure.Circulation. 2016;134(6):e32-e69. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000426National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is arrhythmia?.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is heart inflammation?.Cleveland Clinic.How alcohol affects your heart.American Heart Association.Peripartum cardiomyopathy.Ramachandran G, Prasad CHRK, Garre S, Sundar AS.Oxygen management in heart failure patients.Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology. Published online March 2, 2022:263246362210815. doi:10.1177/26324636221081585Gaggin HK, Januzzi JL.Cardiac biomarkers and heart failure. American College of Cardiology.MedlinePlus.Electrolyte panel.National Kidney Foundation.Coping with chronic kidney disease: “Being an advocate saved my life.“Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012Alter DA, Ko DT, Tu JV, et al.The average lifespan of patients discharged from hospital with heart failure.J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27(9):1171-1179. doi: 10.1007/s11606-012-2072-y
Mangini S, Pires PV, Braga FGM, Bacal F.Decompensated heart failure.Einstein (Sao Paulo).2013;11(3):383-391. doi:10.1590/s1679-45082013000300022
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shortness of breath.
National Institutes of Health.Heart failure: fluids and diuretics.
Patel Y, Joseph J.Sodium intake and heart failure.Int J Mol Sci.2020;21(24). doi:10.3390/ijms21249474
Page RL, O’Bryant CL, Cheng D, et al.Drugs that may cause or exacerbate heart failure.Circulation. 2016;134(6):e32-e69. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000426
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is arrhythmia?.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is heart inflammation?.
Cleveland Clinic.How alcohol affects your heart.
American Heart Association.Peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Ramachandran G, Prasad CHRK, Garre S, Sundar AS.Oxygen management in heart failure patients.Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology. Published online March 2, 2022:263246362210815. doi:10.1177/26324636221081585
Gaggin HK, Januzzi JL.Cardiac biomarkers and heart failure. American College of Cardiology.
MedlinePlus.Electrolyte panel.
National Kidney Foundation.Coping with chronic kidney disease: “Being an advocate saved my life.”
Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012
Alter DA, Ko DT, Tu JV, et al.The average lifespan of patients discharged from hospital with heart failure.J Gen Intern Med. 2012;27(9):1171-1179. doi: 10.1007/s11606-012-2072-y
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
