Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood around the body. It can cause symptoms such as; shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen ankles and palpitations. It is estimated that 12% of people suffer from heart failure in their lifetime. There is no cure for heart failure, but medical treatment can stabilize and improve the condition as well as prolong its life. Some people may benefit from highly specialized treatment, such as balloon dilation, insertion of a special pacemaker, or heart transplantation.
There are various causes of heart failure, blood clots in the heart, high blood pressure, heart valve disease and heart fibrillation can cause heart failure. It is necessary to know the cause in order to provide the right treatment. People with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to have heart failure.
An ongoing research project investigates the incidence of heart failure in Greenland, including whether there is a genetic cause for the disease, in the Greenlandic population.