congestive heart failure (CHF), an abnormal condition that reflects impaired cardiac pumping and the inability to maintain the metabolic needs of the body. Its causes include myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, and cardiomyopathy. Failure of the ventricles to eject blood efficiently results in volume overload, ventricular dilation, and elevated intracardiac pressure. Increased pressure in the left side of the heart causes pulmonary congestion. Increased pressure in the right side causes systemic venous congestion and peripheral edema. See also heart failure.
