What is HEART FAILURE? THE BEST HEART DOCTORS IN OUR PLACE Heart failure — sometimes called a weak heart — occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. When this occurs, blood pressure within the heart and lung blood vessels increases, eventually leading to congestive symptoms and shortness of breath. It is a disease that worsens over time and is rarely cured. At its onset, heart failure is typically treated with changes in lifestyle and a combination of medications, which tend to be more effective when the disease is in its earlier stages. Advanced heart failure occurs when traditional heart therapies, such as medication, no longer work.1 As a patient with advanced heart failure, you may be too exhausted to participate in your usual activities of daily life, such as walking, climbing stairs, eating