A healthy heart, as seen here,

beats approximately 
60 to 100 times a minute,

providing oxygen-rich blood 
to the rest of the body.

The lower left chamber of the heart, 
called the left ventricle,

is the main pumping chamber.

There are many different 
conditions that can lead

to Congestive Heart Failure, 
including a prior heart attack,

high blood pressure, 
and Coronary Artery Disease.

Any of these can prevent the heart
from efficiently

pumping blood 
to the rest of the body.

As a result, the heart may beat faster

and the ventricle may increase in size, 
becoming an even less effective pump.

When the kidneys sense 
the reduced blood flow,

they attempt to compensate 
by retaining more water and salt.

This excess fluid retention 
often causes congestion in the tissues

and results in swelling 
and in increased strain

on an already weak heart.

The progressive effect of the heart 
failing to properly circulate blood

and congestion due to fluid retention,

is known as Congestive Heart Failure.