Practical heart failure information for patients, families, and caregivers
Deutsch (Deutschland)English (United States)español (España)français (France)русский (Россия)
Skip navigation links
UNDERSTANDING HEART FAILURE
TOPICS
Introduction
What is heart failure?
How does the normal heart work?
What goes wrong in heart failure?
What are the different types of heart failure?
Symptoms of heart failure
What causes heart failure?
Common tests for heart failure
How can heart failure change over time?
Myths and facts about heart failure
Test your knowledge

How does the normal heart work? 

Bookmark and Share
 
Animation:
Animation explaining how the
normal heart works
Heart failure animation. How the normal heart works.
Play the animation
 

Your heart is a specialised muscle that pumps blood around your body. Blood carries oxygen and nourishment to all parts of your body and carries waste products to several organs, notably your lungs and kidneys to eliminate.

Your heart is divided into two pumps which work together. Blood coming back from the organs and tissues of your body enters the right side of your heart which then pumps it to your lungs. Your lungs remove waste carbon dioxide from the blood and recharge it with oxygen.

The oxygen-rich blood returning from your lungs enters the left side of your heart, which then pumps it to all parts of your body, including your heart muscle itself.

This process ensures that there is always enough oxygen and nourishment for your body to work efficiently.

Click here for a more detailed explanation of how your heart works.

 

 

 
Copyright 2007© Heart Failure Matters. All rights reserved.