The goals of treating heart failure are relief of symptoms, improvement in exercise tolerance, and reduction in the number of hospitalizations, decreasing morbidity and mortality by various non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures.
The treatment of heart failure requires close attention to both the primary aetiology and the stage of the disease. It also varies depending on whether one is treating acute heart failure or chronic stable heart failure, systolic versus diastolic heart failure.
Management of acute heart failure is a medical emergency that includes bed rest, oxygen administration, morphine, intravenous diuretics, ACE inhibitors, digoxin, IABP, ventricular assist devices or even emergency surgery depending on the clinical scenario.