Heart Failure and CVD: Know the Difference
When dealing with heart conditions, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and heart failure (HF) are often considered to be two different words for the same thing. I believe this, coupled with the abject terror surrounding both, is the source of several misunderstandings. So, I decided to research the matter further to settle this problem once and for all. As a result, I have found that the two conditions are similar, but not synonymous. So, without further ado, let's dive into the similarities and differences between the two, along with some questions you should ask your cardiologist about on your next visit if you have further concerns.
I decided to write about this topic this week because of a series of experiences that have become more common over the past few years.
In my opinion, there is nothing scarier than lying in bed listening to the machines beeping around you, groggy, in an enormous amount of pain, and hearing doctors and nurses whispering above your head as they talk with your loved ones, using terminology that either you don’t understand yet still possesses a certain undeniable mortal knell. Words like “heart failure.” The first time this happened to me was 3 years ago. I was both too weak and too terrified to inquire about it further, but it has followed me at every doctor appointment where there is a slip of the tongue where someone says “heart failure” and then immediately gets flustered when I try to ask what that means. So, fed up with the situation, I did my own research so that no one else has to go through the same existential dread.
Oftentimes, when someone hears the diagnosis of “heart disease” (the more common name for cardiovascular disease), it is often followed by an existential sense of dread, as if someone has just summoned a black-robed specter carrying a scythe… and, trust me, it is even more frightening when a doctor says it. Even so, this important distinction can act like a lifeboat in that crucial moment.
So, technically, while both conditions can be categorized as simply “the heart no longer works properly,” which is basically true, there is a distinction between them.
According to the World Health Organization’s article titled Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the term cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers not so much to a condition as to an umbrella term. Specifically, it refers to “a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels” (World Health Organization, 2025). These diseases exist on a spectrum. Some of the conditions include, “coronary heart disease – a disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle; cerebrovascular disease – a disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain; peripheral arterial disease – a disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs; rheumatic heart disease – damage to the heart muscle and heart valves from rheumatic fever, caused by streptococcal bacteria; congenital heart disease – birth defects that affect the normal development and functioning of the heart caused by malformations of the heart structure from birth; and deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs” (World Health Organization, 2025). In this regard, heart attacks and strokes qualify as acute events of this category. As such, heart failure is another acute event that is the result of these other complications of having a heart that has a functional disorder, so it does not function ideally.
Regardless of how one came to acquire it, it cannot be underestimated how heart failure is a serious lifelong condition, and eventually, the heart will not be able to keep the body from slipping into it. That said, a diagnosis of heart failure does not automatically mean “imminent death.” It just means one’s heart condition has moved to another level that likely requires a higher level of assistance.
Now, as a result of symptoms like the ones addressed above, one can move into heart failure. This is described in the American Heart Association article, What Is Heart Failure? However, even then, it does not mean that the heart is finished. In fact, the heart itself tries to compensate by “enlarging,” where “the heart stretches to contract more strongly to keep up with the body’s demand to pump more blood. Over time, this causes the heart to get bigger”(American Heart Association, 2025). Actually, as a child, this was a method used to try to get my heart to enlarge so my mechanical heart valves could be implanted. So, I was literally walking around at age 7 with the heart the size of an old full-grown man in my chest. Another way it copes is by “developing more muscle mass. The increase in muscle mass occurs because the contracting cells of the heart get bigger. This lets the heart pump more strongly, at least initially” (American Heart Association, 2025). It can also try to stave off heart failure by “pumping faster. This helps increase the heart’s output” (American Heart Association, 2025). Personally, I noticed this at my electrophysiologist’s appointment a few years back. When my pacemaker broke, it was hovering at 39bpm at one point, which was rough. But when it got boosted to 60bpm I was SO much better… but still not “myself.” So, he decided to boost its baseline further. Now my heart is permanently at 70bpm as the lowest it can go. Maybe this is why it helps me so much to have it at a higher rate, to run the heart and body more efficiently?
There are also other ways it can help you, such as observing how “the blood vessels narrow to keep blood pressure up, trying to make up for the heart’s loss of power. The kidneys retain more salt and water instead of removing it through urine. This creates increased blood volume, which helps maintain blood pressure and allows the heart to pump stronger. But over time, this extra volume can overwork the heart, making heart failure worse” (American Heart Association, 2025) and the ultimate result will occur. While this is true, this ultimate conclusion can be staved off with medication, lifestyle changes, and procedures as needed.
Some symptoms of heart failure include but are not limited to: breathlessness, persistent coughing or wheezing, fatigue, nausea, lack of appetite, increased heart rate, or weight changes (American Heart Association, 2025). If you experience any of these symptoms, bring them up with your cardiologist. They are there to help, can offer advice, run tests, and make a plan if you are in heart failure. If the situation becomes heavier than you feel comfortable with, turn to friends, family, or even a therapist for the emotional support you need in this difficult time.
One thing to consider is that sometimes these symptoms can be misunderstood. When I went to both my GP and my cardiologist after gaining 9 pounds I just could not lose (for which my family mocked me), and I had trouble breathing for an extended period of time, it was suggested over and over that I exercise more. But it was known I was in AFib at the time. Ironically, it wasn’t until 4 months later, when I was put on diuretics for two weeks to deal with chest pain due to water around my lungs after the ablation… and all of the weight melted off overnight. I was also able to breathe better than I have in years! My point is that sometimes doctors make mistakes even if your heart condition has been a glaring red flag for decades… sometimes they miss the obvious diagnosis. I still say trust your doctors, but also don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.
However, when you do, before getting frightened of the heart failure diagnosis, know that the spectrum of heart failure needs to be taken into account. There are levels and not all of them need to be treated the same. The article, Epidemiology of Heart Failure by Groenewegen, A. et al., describes how it is a spectrum. “Currently, heart failure patients are most often categorized as having heart failure with reduced (HFrEF; LVEF <40%), mid-range (HFmrEF; LVEF 40–49%), or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF; LVEF ≥50%). Cut-off values are arbitrary and differ across guidelines, and LVEF categorization itself has been criticized for leading to oversimplification of a complex syndrome” (Groenewegen et al., 2020). Therefore, as I said before, the diagnosis itself is not a death sentence, but it is how one manages it that can make a major impact on the length of the ultimate mortal outcome.
For example, I have found myself within the category of “heart failure” for the past 3 years. At first it was mentioned, but then it was denied despite my needing to take heart failure medication. However, now it's unquestionable that I am in heart failure. While this is frightening, it is why I take medications like Jardiance and supplements like magnesium and potassium. Plus, I also recently… and admittedly, begrudgingly, started a low-salt diet. It should be remembered that, despite this diagnosis, I started theevertickingheart, finished my Master’s degree with flying colors, am still traveling, still writing, and am still continuing to tick as I should. And, now that the situation is MUCH better managed than it was this past year, I can say for certain that it can be managed and one’s life can come back online even with an extremely dangerous heart-based health scare.
On that note, one factor that I cannot express with enough seriousness is that being diagnosed with heart failure raises the stakes significantly. While yes, one should obviously go to their doctor appointments regardless, especially with CVD, it is an absolutely non-negotiable necessity when one has slipped into heart failure. An even more important factor is taking your medicine exactly as prescribed, because it's essential to managing your heart and overall well-being.
Questions to Ask Your Cardiologist:
How would you describe heart failure?
This gives you their perspective on the condition.
Do I fall under the heart failure umbrella?
This clarification is always very helpful.
What level of heart failure is this?
Not all heart failure is the same.
What do you recommend I do to help the situation?
Some doctors recommend changes in one's diet plan or exercise routine, and some would prefer medications… sometimes all at once. It just depends on your condition and their medical expertise.
How can this impact my life?
This is a hard one to ask, so think about it before you do. Sometimes people want to know, sometimes not. But it is important to know whether changes can happen, whether accommodations are needed because of diet changes or new medications, or how to deal with the changes and symptoms that result from the condition itself.
Personally, I do have some advice from my own experience. My heart failure would never have jumped to AFib for 4.5 months, which required me to undergo a cardioversion and ablation, if my extended-release potassium had not been withheld by those I trusted to send it in a power play, and my health was the sacrifice.
Some Important Things To Remember:
It is essential that you attend your cardiology appointments.
Take your prescribed medication and supplements.
Be careful who you trust.
This is because heart failure can be like walking on a tightrope that keeps getting narrower. You can do it, but it takes skill, practice, and a safety net to stay safe.
Neither CVD nor HF are, in themselves, death sentences. They are warning signs. I think something people need to understand in these situations is that everyone eventually reaches the same endpoint, but if you have a heart condition, especially heart failure, it is not easy to ignore, and oftentimes the diagnosis itself can overshadow not only how others see you, but how you view yourself. It's a sign to be more careful, like your check engine light is perpetually on. But remember that people can live for decades with heart failure, but only if it is managed. So, if you have heart failure, do what is best for your health and yourself. Embrace it and manage it, because ignoring it may lead to the results most feared about the illness.
And people with CVD and HF are survivors.
What do you think? Can you relate?
Comment below.
Tune in next Monday and Friday for more! I will be writing more now that I'm finally feeling better, so I'm getting a new, more frequent schedule.
Keep ticking, everybody!
P.S. Are there any aspects of CVD health or pacemakers you’d like to know more about?
Feel free to email me at:
References:
American Heart Association (2025). What Is Heart Failure? [online] www.heart.org. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure [Accessed 22 Aug. 2026].
Groenewegen, A., Rutten, F.H., Mosterd, A. and Hoes, A.W. (2020). Epidemiology of Heart Failure. European Journal of Heart Failure, [online] 22(8), pp.1342–1356. doi:10.1002/ejhf.1858.
World Health Organization (2025). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). [online] World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) [Accessed 22 Aug. 2026].
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