Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. This does not mean that the heart has stopped working. Blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and the pressure in the heart increases. This means; the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The heart's chambers respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body or by becoming stiffer and thicker. This keeps the blood moving for only a short time. The walls of the heart muscle weaken and are unable to pump as forcefully. This causes the kidneys to respond by causing the body to retain fluid and sodium. When the body accumulates fluid, it becomes congested. Many conditions can cause heart failure, including coronary heart disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, and conditions that overwork the heart. Systolic and diastolic are the two types of heart failure. Systolic dysfunction occurs when the heart muscle does not contract forcefully enough, meaning there is less oxygen-rich blood being pumped throughout the body. Diastolic dysfunction means that the heart contracts normally, but the ventricle does not relax properly, reducing the amount of blood that can enter the heart and increasing blood pressure in the lungs. Heart failure is a progressive condition and can get worse over time. There are four stages of heart failure classified by the AHA and ACC. Stage A includes people at high risk of developing heart failure. This includes people with high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Stage A also includes people with a history of alcohol abuse, cardiotoxic drug therapy, rheumatic fever, and family history of cardiomyopathy…half of paper…life. Works Cited Heart Failure Overview WebMD Reviewed by Thomas M Maddox, MD on May 28, 2012 http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/heart-failure-overviewHeart Failure Symptoms WebMD Reviewed by Thomas M. Maddox, MD on May 28, 2012 http: //www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/heart-failure-symptoms Heart failure: Patient education can help prevent readmission. Denise A. Benbow, RN, CMSRN, MSN Nursing Management September 2009 Volume 40 Number 9 - Supplement: Med/Surg InsiderPages 5 - 7 http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/JournalArticle?Article_ID=940643&Journal_ID=54013&Issue_ID=940640Standardization of discharge process hospital for heart failure patients to improve transition and reduce 30 days of readmission. http://www.cfmc.org/integratingcare/files/Remington%20Report%20Nov%202011%20Standardizing%20the%20Hospital%20Discharge.pdf