Which of the following best describes heart failure?

A. Normal cardiac output with impaired filling ability of the heart – This describes diastolic dysfunction, which can be part of heart failure, but not all heart failure involves normal cardiac output. B. Normal cardiac output with impaired electrical conduction of the heart –This describes cardiac arrhythmias or conduction disorders, not heart failure. C. Decreased cardiac output due to impaired pumping ability of the heart – Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, resulting in reduced cardiac output. This can be due to systolic dysfunction (weakened contraction) or diastolic dysfunction (impaired filling). D. Increased cardiac output due to excessive pumping ability of the heart – Heart failure is associated with decreased, not increased, cardiac output.