Heart failure is a serious problem all over the world. In the United States there are 500,000 new cases per year!

The incidence and prevalence has increased in accordance with the increasing age of the population. The five year heart failure mortality rate is about 50%, which is higher than most common cancers. The symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath, weakness, exercise intolerance, and abnormal accumulation of body fluid and lung congestion. All of these symptoms could be due to other kinds of illnesses. Physicians are able to reach a diagnosis after a thorough evaluation.