Heart

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens

Heart

Leaders in Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery

Heart Failure

Heart Failure, also known as congestive heart failure, affects more than 5 million Americans and occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. Heart failure is a serious condition that requires expert care and is often a long-term (chronic) condition but may also develop suddenly. The most common risk factors for heart failure include:

  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Valvular disease

Other less common causes of systolic heart failure include cardiac non-compaction, some forms of cancer treatment, fatty infiltration of the heart (ARVD), systemic illnesses that may affect the heart including connective tissue and inflammatory diseases such as sarcoid, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and the scleroderma spectrum of disease.

Heart failure in younger patients is often caused by myocarditis which is an inflammatory response commonly caused by a viral illness. In elderly patients, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming recognized as the most common form of heart failure.

Heart Failure Symptoms

If a patient has heart failure, the heart is not strong enough to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. As the heart struggles to work harder, it is not able to maintain healthy blood pressure and volume levels, which often causes parts of the heart to become enlarged or for the heart to retain fluid.

Patients with heart failure may experience the following symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling
  • Difficulty exercising
  • General fatigue
  • Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  • Difficulty performing normal activities, such as dressing or bathing, without assistance
  • Sleep-disordered breathing patterns

Types of Heart Failure We Treat

Heart failure is complex and can lead to many different types of heart problems. Other cardiac disorders may have similar symptoms as heart failure, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, it is important for patients to visit an experienced cardiologist who specializes in heart failure.

At NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, we treat:

  • Left-sided heart failure [including heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HRrEF), often called systolic failure and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), often called diastolic failure or diastolic dysfunction]
  • Right-sided heart failure
  • Congestive heart failure

Heart Failure Treatment

Five-Star for Treatment of Heart Failure

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens is a Healthgrades® Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure in 2021.

Our team of cardiologists uses the most advanced diagnostic tools, imaging technology, and therapies to diagnose, treat and manage heart failure as early as possible. Our team of specialists offers a wide variety of treatments, as well as long-term care options, to provide our patients with the best possible outcomes. The treatments we provide may include:

  • Medications
  • Minimally invasive (catheter-based) and other cardiac surgery techniques
  • Mechanical circulatory support devices
  • Heart transplant

Our team provides comprehensive care in treating patients with all types and stages of heart failure, in both inpatient and outpatient practices, to maximize their quality of life.

Our Doctors


Contact us


NewYork-Presbyterian Queens

Heart Failure Department

718-670-2243 (718-670-2CHF)

NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Queens - Forest Hills

NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Queens - Fresh Meadows

NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Queens - Flushing