We are currently in the midst of the greatest heart failure pandemic in human history and the prevalence of heart failure is rising steadily and ominously all over the wold. It is currently estimate that more than 20 million people worldwide suffer from this condition. This update highlights the enormous progress being made in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. The chosen topics cover all the pharmacological therapies in use to date for the treatment of heart failure and are based on personal experience with the various drugs available.