The major causes of heart failure are as follows:
1. Coronary artery disease (Acute MI)
2. Chronic hypertension
3. Cardiomyopathy ( dilated, alcoholic and idiopathic)
4. Valve dysfunction (diseases of aortic and mitral valve)
5. Cardiac Arrhythmia (heart block, atrial fibrillation)
6. Pericardial diseases (constrictive pericarditis)
7. Infective (Viral myocarditis, HIV, rheumatic fever)
Coronary artery disease, either alone or in combination with hypertension, seems to be the most common cause of heart failure. It is, however, very difficult to be certain what is the primary cause of heart failure in a patient with multiple potential causes, e.g: coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, etc.

Symptoms of heart failure develop slowly over a period of time (Chronic Congestive HF), however, sometimes a patient can present suddenly. Heart failure symptoms include:
1. Shortness of breath
2. Fatigue and weakness
3. Swelling of the feet
4. Dry cough
5. Reduced appetite
6. Decreased alertness
7. Reduced ability to work/ exercise

Complications depend on age, severity of heart failure and overall health, these include:
1. Kidney failure: most common complication of heart failure is damage to the kidneys because of reduce blood flow, it may lead to dialysis often.
2. Liver damage: Heart failure leads to congestion of the liver and its malfunction
3. Sudden cardiac death: due to sudden changes in heart rhythm (VT/VF) in the presence of weak heart.

Medicines are the main stay of treatment of heart failure, along with medication treatment often include lifestyle modification, strict control of diabetes and blood pressure. If a cause for heart failure is identified than it will be treated accordingly. You may consult your physician to understand better regarding various medicines available for the treatment of Heart failure.

With medical management the symptoms of heart failure improve in a majority of patients, how-ever surgery may be needed in a few. Surgery or other procedures for chronic heart failure may include:
1. Coronary artery bypass surgery: In the presence of severe coronary artery disease; bypass surgery provides immediate relief from heart failure by improving the blood flow to the heart muscle.
2. Heart valve repair or replacement surgery: If the cause of heart failure is a damaged heart valve, either repair or replacement of the damaged heart valve gives symptomatic relief from the heart failure. Heart valve repair or replacement can be performed through minimally invasive approach.
3. Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD): AICD is a device similar to pacemaker which is implanted into the heart, it monitors the heart rhythm, and corrects any abnormal beating of the heart, it may also delivers shock in cases of VT/VF to revert it into regular heart rhythm.
4. Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT): also called biventricular pacing…