CHF is a medical abbreviation for congestive heart failure, sometimes simply referred to as heart failure. Despite this name, the heart doesn't actually stop functioning altogether. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition that affects the pumping of your heart muscles.

Understanding the Context

Learn more about causes, symptoms, and treatment. Congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart failure are the same thing. Both terms describe the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to service the body's needs. 1 The term "congestive" simply describes the buildup of blood or fluid that occurs when the heart is failing.

Key Insights

2. Heart failure, or congestive heart failure (CHF), means the heart can't pump enough blood. Learn about the signs, symptoms, and causes. Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome caused by an impairment in the heart 's ability to fill with and pump blood. Although symptoms vary based on which side of the heart is affected, HF typically presents with shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, and bilateral leg swelling.

Final Thoughts

[3] Congestive heart failure (CHF) refers to a condition in which the heart loses the ability to function properly. Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, myocarditis, and cardiomyopathies are just a few potential causes of congestive heart failure.