Shortness of breath is the most common symptom of acute heart failure from there the condition shares many of the same symptoms as chronic or severe heart failure these symptoms may be much more. Purpose of review the purpose of this review is to describe the extent and scope of acute heart failure ahf place it within its clinical context and highlight some of the difficulties in defining it as a pathophysiological entity recent findings a diagnosis of ahf is made when patients present acutely with signs and symptoms of heart failure often with decompensation of pre existing . Acute heart failure is heart failure that occurs suddenly and sometimes without warning heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to serve the bodys needs it can be acute. Acute heart failure ahf refers to the rapid onset or worsening of the signs and symptoms of heart failure this is a life threatening condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood to meet the bodys needs ahf may present as new onset heart failure or as acute decompensation of chronic heart failure chf