Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure. A heart failure doesn't mean the heart stops working, it means the heart can't work properly.
Like a pump, with each beat the heart pumps blood to supply to all over your body. When the pump gets weak, the blood pumped isn't enough to supple the entire body. The blood carries oxygen, insufficient blood supply means insufficient oxygen supply, then you start to feel discomfort, especially when you're in movement, i.e. shortness of breath, dizziness, and other symptoms associated to insufficient blood supply and insufficient oxygen supply.
Heart failure can be in the left side heart, right side heart or both. When both sides are failing, it is called congestive heart failure.
Then what makes the heart weaker?
Most often, the damage is to the heart muscle. The damage is usually done by high blood pressure, heart attack, or cardiomyopathy(heart muscle disease).
There can be damage to the heart valves or with scarring in the pericardium.
In rare cases the damage can be caused by long-time fast heart beat.
How does the congestive heart failure develop? There are four stages.
Class
Patient Symptoms
I
No limitation of physical activity. Ordinary physical activity does not cause undue fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of breath).
II
Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea (shortness of breath).
III
Marked limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest. Less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, or dyspnea.
IV
Unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms of heart failure at rest. If any physical activity is undertaken, discomfort increases.
Heart failure is a serious disease, treatment can slow down the progress, but the disease can't be reversed. For healthy people, prevention is the key. For patients, always listen to your cardiologist.
Prevention of heart failure include prevention and treatment of underlying diseases:
maintain a normal BMI
maintain a normal blood pressure
maintain a normal blood sugar
take fiber more
vegetables, vegetables, vegetables
no smoking
cut alcohol
exercises