Heart failure is a clinical syndrome characterized by the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body because of systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction. Heart failure can occur suddenly or progress slowly over a period of years. In either case, the ultimate manifestation is insufficient pumping, and the body and tissues are unable to receive an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in drowsiness, loss of appetite, and reduced kidney function. Insufficient forward pumping of the heart results in blood accumulating in the posterior organs of the heart (lungs), producing pulmonary stasis, excess lung fluid, and ultimately shortness of breath symptoms. When there is failure of the right heart, there is body circulation stasis, leading to ascites and lower extremity edema.