Congestive heart failure, which caused Elizabeth Taylor to be rushed to the hospital several days ago, is a condition in which the heart is unable to route blood to the bodys other organs. Despite the frightening word failure, the American Heart Association (AHA) says that the heart keeps working, but not as efficiently as it should.
Causes include coronary artery disease (narrowed arteries); past heart attacks; high blood pressure; and cardiomyopathy (disease of the actual heart muscle itself). Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling (edema), most often in the legs and feet.
Taylor, 78, who is in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said in 2004 that she had the condition.
Mild and moderate cases of congestive heart failure can be treated with drugs or surgery, depending on the cause of the condition. But more severe cases, in which the damaged heart cant be repaired, may require extreme remedies such as a heart transplant.
A spokeswoman for Taylor said Sunday that the actress would probably remain in Cedars-Sinai for the next few days but did not release any details ofher treatment.
