US Medical Term · conditions
Heart Failure
Insuficiencia cardíaca
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Heart Failure |
| Spanish (Español) | Insuficiencia cardíaca |
| Chinese (中文) | 心臟衰竭 |
| Korean (한국어) | 심부전 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Suy tim |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pagpalya ng Puso |
| Portuguese (Português) | Insuficiência cardíaca |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | หัวใจล้มเหลว |
| Japanese (日本語) | 心不全 |
What it means
Heart failure means the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Despite the name, it does not mean the heart has stopped; rather, it is not working as efficiently as it should. This causes fluid to back up in the lungs, legs, and other tissues. Symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and ankles, fatigue, and difficulty lying flat to sleep. Heart failure is usually caused by coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, or a previous heart attack. Treatment includes medications, lifestyle changes, monitoring daily weight, and in some cases implantable devices or surgery.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have heart failure and have been gaining weight and feeling more short of breath this week.
Tengo insuficiencia cardíaca y he estado aumentando de peso y sintiendo más falta de aire esta semana.
My doctor wants me to limit my daily fluid intake because of my heart failure.
Mi médico quiere que limite mi ingesta diaria de líquidos debido a mi insuficiencia cardíaca.
Will my plan cover a cardiac monitoring device for managing my heart failure at home?
¿Mi plan cubre un dispositivo de monitoreo cardíaco para controlar mi insuficiencia cardíaca en casa?
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
I50 Heart failureRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026