How does the weak heart affect blood circulation?
When the heart is weak, its pumping power is diminished and blood circulation is decreased. The body does not get the full supply of oxygen that it needs to thrive. When this happens, your heart must work even harder to keep up with the demands of the body, and, as a result, many heart failure patients experience extreme fatigue and exhaustion. ( See Symptoms of Heart Failure. ) Back to Top Types of Heart Failure There are two distinct types of heart failure that can occur alone or together: Systolic Dysfunction (impaired contraction) Systolic heart failure is caused by a weakened heart muscle that cannot contract with enough force to cause blood to flow out of the heart and into the bloodstream. In this case, blood coming into the heart from the lungs may back up and cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs and other parts of the body. Many people with heart failure have a buildup of fluid in the lungs, which is why you often hear the term congestive heart failure. Diastolic Dysfunction
