What is the definition of congestive heart failure?

The definition of congestive heart failure centers around the heart's inability to pump blood effectively, which leads to an excessive buildup of fluid in the body's tissues. This condition manifests when the heart is not able to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs, resulting in fluid accumulation in areas such as the lungs, abdomen, and legs.

Understanding the specifics of congestive heart failure is crucial because it informs both diagnosis and treatment. The buildup of fluid can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling, which are all direct consequences of the heart's impaired pumping action.

The other options simply do not capture the essence of congestive heart failure. Rapid heartbeat and sweating, for example, may occur during various cardiac events but do not specifically describe heart failure. Similarly, inflammation of the heart lining refers to a different condition, known as pericarditis, while narrowing of the arteries pertains to coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart failure but is not the definition of it itself. Thus, the accurate definition provided highlights the primary problem related to the heart's function in congestive heart failure.