Treatment will vary depending on the cause of congestive heart failure. It may be cured, for example, if a heart valve defect can be surgically corrected. However, for the most common forms of congestive heart failure there is no cure.

Treatment may include reducing the risk factors (smoking, for example), taking medications (diuretics, digitalis, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers, for instance), and surgical techniques (heart transplantation, Left Ventricular Assist Devices - LVADs, and other procedures).

Diagnosis is often made by physical examination. Other tests that may be utilized include an electrocardiogram, or EKG, an echogram, chest x-rays, and laboratory tests.

It is estimated that five million Americans have congestive heart failure. It is a major chronic condition in the United States. There are approximately 550,000 new cases each year.