What is Heart Failure- By Heart Specialist Heart failure (HF), also known as chronic heart failure (CHF), is when the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to meet the body’s needs. Signs and symptoms of heart failure commonly include shortness of breath, excessive tiredness, and leg swelling. The shortness of breath is usually worse with exercise, while lying down, and may wake the person at night. A limited ability to exercise is also a common feature. Chest pain, including angina, does not typically occur due to heart failure. Common causes of heart failure include coronary artery disease including a previous myocardial infarction (heart attack), high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation , valvular heart disease, excess alcohol use, infection, and cardiomyopathy of an unknown cause.These cause heart failure by changing either the structure or the functioning of the heart. Causes of Heart Failure: Congestive heart failure Heart fai