Left-sided heart failure is the most common type of heart failure. While it is a serious condition, treatments can help relieve symptoms, slow disease progression and improve quality of life.
If you've been diagnosed with left-sided heart failure, you have options for care and support. Banner Health's nationally recognized cardiovascular program treats all types of heart failure using advanced testing, proven medications and personalized treatment plans. Heart failure can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to face it alone.
Left-sided heart failure is a chronic (long-term) condition and a type of congestive heart failure. It occurs when the heart’s lower left chamber, called the left ventricle, cannot pump blood to the rest of the body effectively. As a result, blood can back up into the lungs, causing fluid to build up.
There are two main types of left-sided heart failure:
Ejection fraction (EF) measures how much blood leaves the left ventricle each time your heart beats. A normal EF is about 55% to 70%.
Like other forms of heart failure, left-sided heart failure can worsen over time. As it advances, it can cause serious complications, including right-sided heart failure and damage to other organs.
Your heart has four chambers. The left ventricle is the main chamber that pumps blood filled with oxygen to the rest of the body.
Each time your heart beats, the left ventricle:
When the left ventricle works properly, it delivers a steady flow of oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. If it doesn’t work properly, blood can back up into the lungs and can cause symptoms of heart failure.
Left-sided heart failure develops when the heart muscle becomes too weak or too stiff to pump blood effectively.
Common causes include:
Your doctor may use the terms systolic heart failure and diastolic heart failure or HFrEF and HFpEF. These terms describe different ways the left ventricle can stop working properly.
HFrEF occurs when the heart muscle weakens and cannot contract strongly enough to pump blood effectively. In HFrEF, the ejection fraction is usually 40% or lower.
Common causes include:
HFpEF occurs when the heart muscle becomes stiff and cannot relax enough to fill with blood properly between heartbeats. Although the pumping strength may appear normal, less blood fills the ventricle, meaning less blood reaches the body.
Common causes include:
The symptoms of HFpEF and HFrEF are often similar. Symptoms may develop slowly and worsen over time. They may first show up during everyday activities.
Common signs include:
Some symptoms need quick attention. Call 911 or get taken to the nearest emergency room if you have:
Without treatment, left-sided heart failure can lead to serious complications, including:
Following your treatment plan can help lower your risk of complications and slow disease progression.
Diagnosing heart failure usually involves several steps. Your health care provider will review your symptoms, medical history and family history. They will also listen to your heart and lungs, check your blood pressure and check for swelling.
Tests may include:
Treatment focuses on helping your heart work more efficiently, relieving symptoms and preventing complications. Your care plan may include lifestyle changes, medications, procedures and ongoing monitoring.
Healthy habits play an important role in managing heart failure. Your provider may recommend:
Learn about new heart-healthy diet guidelines.
Your provider might prescribe medication to help your heart pump more effectively, reduce stress on your heart or remove excess fluid. Common medications include:
Take these medications exactly as prescribed. Even if you start to feel better, don’t stop without talking to your provider first.
Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program that combines exercise, education and support to help improve heart health and quality of life.
Some people with advanced heart failure may benefit from:
These treatments are not for everyone. Your care team will only recommend them if they may help you.
Schedule an appointment if you notice:
At Banner Health, we provide comprehensive heart failure care for patients at every stage of the disease. Our cardiologists, heart failure specialists and care teams work together to create personalized treatment plans designed to help you feel better and stay healthier longer.
We offer advanced imaging, medication management, cardiac rehabilitation and access to advanced therapies, including LVADs and heart transplantation when appropriate. As part of an academic health system, we provide access to innovative treatments and leading-edge research.
From diagnosis through long-term management, we're committed to helping you live your fullest life with heart failure.
Find a Banner Health specialist near you.
Yes. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is the newer medical term for systolic heart failure. Both terms describe a weakened heart muscle that cannot pump blood effectively.
Yes. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is the newer term for diastolic heart failure. In this type of heart failure, the heart muscle becomes stiff and does not fill properly.
Ejection fraction (EF) is the percentage of blood your heart pumps out with each heartbeat. A normal EF is about 55% to 70%. Numbers below or above that range help your provider find out which type of heart failure you have.
Yes. Left-sided heart failure is a serious, long-term condition. The good news is that with the right treatment and care, many people feel better and live full lives.
Some causes of heart failure can improve with treatment, medication and lifestyle changes. Early diagnosis often leads to better outcomes.
Life expectancy varies based on age, overall health, the severity of heart failure and how well the condition is managed. The keys are early diagnosis, sticking to your care plan, heart-healthy habits and regular visits with your care team.
Try to limit foods high in salt, such as processed meats, canned soups, frozen meals, fast food and salty snacks. Be mindful of how much fluid you drink each day, too. Your care team or a registered dietitian can help you build a meal plan that fits your needs.
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