Heart failure: an update.

This article provides an overview of the latest in the standard of care and approaches for heart failure treatment. It presents two new American Heart Association Scientific Statements related to heart failure risk. The first addresses the prevention of heart failure with an emphasis on risk reduction. The second statement focuses on efforts to reduce hypertension, a primary risk factor for heart failure, through a self-care regimen that features home blood pressure monitoring. Implications for home care practice are presented.