##  [Heart Failure](/diseases/heart-failure "Heart Failure") 

 Heart failure is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body, leaving patients fatigued, short of breath, and at risk of sudden cardiac death. This, in most cases, happens because the heart muscle responsible for the pumping action weakens or stiffens over time.

 

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 ![Dr Helen Yifter, measuring blood pressure at Black Lion Hospital, Ethiopia](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_50_50/public/2021-10/ethiopia-patient-world-heart-day-banner.jpg.webp?itok=XxHLEOzg "Dr Helen Yifter, measuring blood pressure at Black Lion Hospital, Ethiopia") 

 

###  World Heart Day 2020: From our heart to yours 

For the past six decades, Novartis has been working to advance heart health around the world.

 

 

 ](/news/world-heart-day-2020-from-our-heart-yours) [ 

 ![Business people examine a 3-dimensional rendering of a heart on a large screen](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_50_50/public/2021-07/cardio-metabolic-3d-heart-image.jpg.webp?itok=Ane3nzzi "3-D heart presentation") 

 

###  Heart Failure 

How much do you know about heart failure? Take the quiz

 

 

 ](https://www.buzzfeed.com/h2/fbmi/novartiseurope/how-much-do-you-actually-know-about-heart-failure-eur) 





 

 

 



     ![A doctor examines with his stethoscope a woman living with heart failure](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/banner_image_1920/public/2021-07/heart-failure-story-hero-image.png?h=0a3615b4&itok=nrhAUYG7 "A doctor examines with his stethoscope a woman living with heart failure") 

 



##  Heart failure 

Heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalizations, but it doesn’t have to be

 [Read the story](/stories/heart-failure-leading-cause-hospitalizations-it-doesnt-have-be "Read the story") 

 

 

 

 

 

 







## Empowering Patients

Studies show that empowering people living with heart failure to be involved in their own care improves their health outcomes. This is the reason why we support patient advocacy programs and invest in non-medical solutions in heart failure. The Heart Failure Symptom Checker, Talking to your Doctors Guide, and Patient Perspective on Heart failure report are tools and resources that we developed with patients to improve their health outcomes.

### Keep It Pumping

Keep It Pumping is a worldwide effort with an active Facebook community created to support and enable people with heart failure to lead better lives.

[Learn More](https://www.facebook.com/keepitpumpingmovement/)



### Symptom Checker

This symptom checker includes the main symptoms of heart failure and is designed to help evaluate these potential symptoms.

[Learn More](https://www.keepitpumping.com/heart-failure-syndrom-checker-quiz)



### Talking to your Doctors Guide

The Talking to Your Doctors Guide is designed to help people get the most out of each appointment.

[Learn More](https://www.keepitpumping.com/talking-your-doctor)



### Patient Perspective

Read about people’s experiences of diagnosis, talking to their doctors, and living with heart failure day to day.

[Learn More](https://www.keepitpumping.com/patient-perspective-heart-failure)







 



 ![Rendering of atherosclerosis](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2021-10/cardio-metabolic-atherosclerosis.jpg.webp?itok=U6w3Hra1 "Rendering of atherosclerosis")

 

## Atherosclerosis and Heart Attack

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of cholesterol and inflammatory cells in the artery walls that can restrict blood flow and cause blood clots. It is the most common underlying cause of a heart attack, which occurs when a blood clot stops blood flow and oxygen supply to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle.

### What is inflammatory atherosclerosis?

It is estimated that in people who have had a heart attack, the risk of having another heart attack or stroke is related to increased inflammation of the blood vessels. This characteristic has been described as inflammatory atherosclerosis. At Novartis, we are actively participating in research and clinical development in this highly innovative and novel field of cardiovascular medicine.