| What is Congestive Heart Failure? | | | | systems involved and depending on the degree to |
| The heart is made of specialized muscle and acts as | | | | which the rest of the body has "compensated" for the |
| a powerful pump that sends blood flowing throughout | | | | heart muscle weakness. An early symptom of |
| the body. Our blood contains the oxygen and nutrients | | | | congestive heart failure is fatigue. While fatigue is a |
| that the body needs in order to function. When the | | | | sensitive indicator of possible underlying congestive |
| heart muscle is not pumping blood as strongly as it | | | | heart failure, it is obviously a nonspecific symptom that |
| should, the body does not receive enough oxygen and | | | | may be caused by many other conditions. The |
| nutrients to function properly. This poor pumping action | | | | person's ability to exercise may also diminish. Patients |
| by the heart is known as congestive heart failure. | | | | may not even sense this decrease and they may |
| What are the symptoms? | | | | subconsciously reduce their activities to accommodate |
| Symptoms can help doctors find out which side of | | | | this limitation. |
| your heart is not working properly. | | | | Fatigue and shortness of breath (dyspnea) are the first |
| If the left side of your heart is not working properly | | | | symptoms. They are caused by fluid in the lungs. |
| (left-sided heart failure), blood and fluid back up into | | | | Patients typically report that they feel out of breath |
| your lungs. You will feel short of breath, be very tired, | | | | after mild exertion. It is unlike the breathlessness of |
| and have a cough (especially at night). In some cases, | | | | angina, which feels like a heavy weight pressing on the |
| patients may begin to cough up pinkish, blood-tinged | | | | chest. |
| sputum. | | | | Symptoms that may signify heart failure are: |
| If the right side of your heart is not working properly | | | | Breathing Difficulties |
| (right-sided heart failure), the slowed blood flow causes | | | | Shortness of breath from walking stairs or simple |
| a buildup of fluid in your veins. Your feet, legs, and | | | | activities (dyspnea |
| ankles will begin to swell. This swelling is called edema. | | | | Trouble breathing when resting or lying down |
| Sometimes edema spreads to the lungs, liver, and | | | | Waking up breathless at night (paroxysmal nocturnal |
| stomach. | | | | dyspnea) |
| Symptoms of Left-Side Heart Failure | | | | Symptoms of Right-Side Heart Failure |
| Central sleep apnea. This disorder results when the | | | | Right-side failure results in a reduced blood flow |
| brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe during sleep. | | | | causing a build up of pressure and fluid in the veins. |
| It occurs in up to half of people with heart failure. Sleep | | | | The external symptoms of this build up include swelling |
| apnea causes disordered breathing at night. If heart | | | | in the… |
| failure progresses, the apnea may be so acute that a | | | | Feet |
| person, unable to breathe, may awaken from sleep in | | | | Ankles |
| panic. | | | | Legs |
| Loss of muscle mass. Over time, patients may lose | | | | Sometimes abdomen |
| muscle weight due to low cardiac output. | | | | What are the risk factors for Congestive Heart |
| The symptoms of congestive heart failure vary | | | | Failure? |
| among individuals according to the particular organ | | | | |