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Topic Overview

High-output heart failure happens when the body's need for blood is unusually high, so heart failure symptoms happen even though the heart is working well.

This type of heart failure happens to a very small number of people with heart failure.

What happens to the heart?

High-output heart failure occurs when the normally functioning heart cannot keep up with an unusually high demand for blood to one or more organs in the body. The heart may be working well otherwise, but it cannot pump out enough blood to keep up with this extra need.

What causes it?

There are a variety of conditions that can significantly increase the body's need for blood and oxygen, resulting in high-output heart failure. These conditions include anemia, hyperthyroidism, and pregnancy. Although the causes of high-output heart failure are different from the cause of other types of heart failure, the end result is the same: Your heart isn't supplying enough blood to meet your body's needs. High-output heart failure results in the same symptoms of heart failure, including fatigue and shortness of breath.

Related Information

• Heart Failure

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