Heart failure

Heart failure is a common condition that affects 10 per cent of people over 70 years of age (in the UK). It has several causes, including acute damage that can occur after a heart attack, hypertension, valvular disease and arrhythmias, some of which we will discuss later in the week.

In this video Dr Sam Boateng will discuss in detail the pumping mechanism of the heart and what happens when it can no longer pump efficiently.

You can download the Week 3 supplement, which contains additional images and descriptions to help you understand the topics covered in this video.

British Heart Foundation resources

You can find out more about this topic in the following booklet on Living with heart failure produced by the British Heart Foundation.