Heart failure is a common condition in general practice with an annual prevalance of 25 cases for a typical 2000 patient practice. This rises to more than 80 cases per 1000 population in the over 75s. The range of diagnostic and therapeutic choices which this group of patients represents will test the decision-making abilities of most GPs. However, diagnosing and treating heart failure is well within the remit of general practice, particularly now that new therapies such as ACE inhibitors for CHF have greatly improved the management of this condition. However, GPs need to work closely with cardiologists on investigative procedures such as electrocardiology and revascularization. Better targetting of drugs in patients with different types of heart disease is needed in future. This condition requires careful initial scrutiny in a specialist unit followed up with shared care initiatives between general practices, local cardiologists and specially trained liaison nurses in the community. Many of the present admissions to hospital for heart failure could be prevented by developing heart failure management in primary care. This book is a diagnostic and management guide for GPs.