These narrated animations (from Heart Failure Matters) explain how a healthy heart works, what happens during heart failure and how various treatments work to improve your health.
Video: How the normal heart works - www.heartfailurematters.org
This animation shows how a normal heart works, pumping blood that provides oxygen and nourishment to all the parts of the body while carrying waste products mainly to the lungs and kidneys. This video may take a few moments to load.
Video: How the heart and body compensate in heart failure - www.heartfailurematters.org
This animation shows how the heart and body adapt to heart failure, by trying to keep up with the amount of blood your heart needs. This is known as compensation. This video may take a few moments to load.
Video: How heart failure causes fluid accumulation - www.heartfailurematters.org
This animation shows how heart failure can lead to fluid accumulation in the body, affecting appetite and weight gain and leading to swollen legs and ankles. This video may take a few moments to load.
Video: How a heart attack can cause heart failure - www.heartfailurematters.org
Heart attacks are the most common cause of heart failure. If you have a heart attack, one of the arteries supplying your heart muscle itself has become completely blocked, cutting off the blood supply, and blocking the supply of oxygen and nourishment to that part of your heart muscle, causing it to die. This video may take a few moments to load.
Video: How abnormal heart valves can cause heart failure - www.heartfailurematters.org
This animation shows that if your heart valves don't work properly, your heart has to work harder to keep enough blood moving in the correct direction. This additional workload can become too much for your heart and heart failure develops. This video may take a few moments to load.
Video: How vasodilators work in heart failure - www.heartfailurematters.org
This animation shows how ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors can help you by causing your blood vessels to relax and thus lower your blood pressure. This means your heart doesn't have to work so hard to squeeze your blood around your body. This video may take a few moments to load.
Video: How diuretics work in heart failure - www.heartfailurematters.org
This animation shows how diuretics help your body to get rid of excess fluids (fluid accumulation is a common symptom of heart failure). This makes it easier for your heart because there is less fluid to pump around your body. This video may take a few moments to load.
Video: How medical devices work in heart failure - www.heartfailurematters.org
This animation shows how a number of advanced medical devices can be used to help patients that suffer from heart failure. These devices support your heart by using painless electrical signals to keep it beating regularly and/or improve function. They may not only improve symptoms but can also contribute to improve long-term survival. This video may take a few moments to load.
(Heart Failure Matters, 2012)
