| 1. | a condition in which the heart fatally ceases to function. |
| 2. | Also called congestive heart failure. a condition in which the heart fails to pump adequate amounts of blood to the tissues, resulting in accumulation of blood returning to the heart from the veins, and often accompanied by distension of the ventricles, edema, and shortness of breath. |
| heart failure n.
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heart failure n.
A condition marked by weakness, edema, and shortness of breath that is caused by the inability of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation in the peripheral tissues and the lungs. Also called cardiac insufficiency, congestive heart failure, myocardial insufficiency.
The resulting clinical syndrome, consisting of shortness of breath, pitting edema, enlarged tender liver, engorged neck veins, and pulmonary rales.
| heart failure
An acute or chronic inability of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation to the peripheral tissues and the lungs, usually characterized by fatigue, edema, and shortness of breath. Heart failure has many causes, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy. Also called congestive heart failure. |