Best treatments for heart failure

Understanding heart failure

Heart failure (sometimes called congestive heart failure) is a long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It does not mean the heart has stopped. According to the NHLBI, more than 6 million U.S. adults have heart failure. It usually develops when another condition damages or overworks the heart, such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, heart inflammation, cardiomyopathy, or an irregular heartbeat. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid buildup that causes swelling in the lower body or around the abdomen. Heart failure is often described by ejection fraction, either reduced (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF), which helps guide treatment. There is no cure, but per NHLBI and MedlinePlus, treatment can help many people live longer and feel better. Management combines heart-healthy lifestyle changes (lowering sodium, staying active as advised, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and controlling blood pressure and other risk factors) with medicines, and in some cases devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators. This is general information, not medical advice; treatment should be individualized by a licensed healthcare professional.

Frequently asked

What treats heart failure?

Our catalog lists 72 products that may treat heart failure, based on NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. They're rated where FDA recall-safety data exists; the current top-rated option is atacand.

What is the best-rated treatment for heart failure?

By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — atacand ranks highest among the products we list for heart failure. Always consult a professional.

How are these treatments ranked?

By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.

What types of drugs treat heart failure?

Treatments for heart failure span FDA drug classes including angiotensin 2 receptor blocker, recombinant human growth hormone, loop diuretic, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, thiazide diuretic. Compare every option side by side, ranked by independent rating, above.

Treatment associations are derived from NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. This is general reference, not medical advice — always consult a licensed professional.