Lecture: Heart Failure

To define the syndrome of heart failure, and to describe why it occurs.
To describe the haemodynamic changes that occur in heart failure, in particular the compensatory mechanisms by which the body maintains normal cardiac output.
To describe other compensatory mechanisms, in particular neuro-hormonal activation, involving the autonomic nervous system and the renin-angiotension-aldosterone system
To understand how compensatory mechanisms initially improve the situation but eventually make it worse, contributing to the signs and symptoms of heart failure.
To describe the basis for drug treatment in heart failure, and to consider the commonly used therapies.