0:00:01.282,0:00:03.420
A healthy heart, as seen here,

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beats approximately [br]60 to 100 times a minute,

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providing oxygen-rich blood [br]to the rest of the body.

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The lower left chamber of the heart, [br]called the left ventricle,

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is the main pumping chamber.

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There are many different [br]conditions that can lead

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to Congestive Heart Failure, [br]including a prior heart attack,

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high blood pressure, [br]and Coronary Artery Disease.

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Any of these can prevent the heart[br]from efficiently

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pumping blood [br]to the rest of the body.

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As a result, the heart may beat faster

0:00:31.759,0:00:36.508
and the ventricle may increase in size, [br]becoming an even less effective pump.

0:00:36.508,0:00:39.392
When the kidneys sense [br]the reduced blood flow,

0:00:39.392,0:00:42.939
they attempt to compensate [br]by retaining more water and salt.

0:00:42.939,0:00:46.985
This excess fluid retention [br]often causes congestion in the tissues

0:00:46.985,0:00:49.887
and results in swelling [br]and in increased strain

0:00:49.887,0:00:51.918
on an already weak heart.

0:00:51.918,0:00:55.667
The progressive effect of the heart [br]failing to properly circulate blood

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and congestion due to fluid retention,

0:00:58.191,0:01:00.514
is known as Congestive Heart Failure.