Heart Failure: A Call to Action

A recent survey commissioned by The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, The Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, and The Society for Chest Pain Centers found that respondents had a striking lack of awareness and knowledge about heart failure. This article reviews the confusion and misperceptions surrounding heart failure, discusses implications of the survey findings, and offers suggestions for patients at risk for heart failure as well as professionals who work with these patients—including clinicians, researchers, and those in larger groups such as institutions and government bodies.