Which type of heart failure is associated with an inability of the heart to pump blood effectively?

Systolic heart failure is characterized by the heart's inability to pump blood effectively, primarily due to reduced contractility of the heart muscle. In this condition, the heart's ejection fraction is often decreased, meaning that less blood is being ejected from the ventricles with each heartbeat. This leads to inadequate circulation of blood to meet the body’s needs, resulting in symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and fluid retention.

The pump failure in systolic heart failure often occurs due to conditions such as coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction, which impair the heart muscle's functionality. By contrast, diastolic heart failure, while also a form of heart failure, involves the heart's inability to fill properly during the diastolic phase due to stiffness or other issues with the heart muscle. Left-sided heart failure refers specifically to dysfunction on the left side of the heart, which can result from systolic or diastolic failure, while right-sided heart failure generally involves systemic venous congestion and is often a consequence of left-sided heart failure.

Overall, systolic heart failure specifically highlights the issue of ineffective pumping, which is why it is the correct choice in this context.