7 Signs of Congestive Heart Failure
The heart pumps blood through an extensive network of vessels, and it supplies oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout the body. When the heart muscle cannot meet these demands, fluid may accumulate in the lungs, legs, or abdomen. This condition is called congestive heart failure.
What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
Congestive heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart muscle becomes too weak or too stiff to circulate blood efficiently. The condition may be described by the side of the heart affected. Left-sided heart failure tends to cause fluid to collect in the lungs; right-sided heart failure more often leads to swelling in the legs, ankles, and abdomen. Several health conditions can contribute to heart failure, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart valve disorders, cardiomyopathy, and irregular heart rhythms.
What Are the Signs?
Signs of congestive heart failure may develop gradually over several months or appear suddenly. Some people can notice that routine tasks, such as climbing stairs or carrying groceries, have become more tiring. There are some commonly reported signs, and some of these include:
- Shortness of breath during activity
- Waking at night with a feeling of breathlessness
- Tiredness
- Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen
- Weight gain
- Cough that is dry
- Heartbeat that is irregular
Because many of these signs can stem from other health conditions, a professional evaluation is necessary to identify their cause.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Diagnosis may begin with a review of your symptoms, and it is typically followed by a physical examination. During the exam, a cardiologist can listen to your heart and lungs and check for swelling in the legs. Testing may confirm whether heart failure is present, and it helps identify its type and possible causes.
Blood tests can measure a substance the heart releases when under strain. An electrocardiogram records the heart’s electrical activity, and it may reveal rhythm problems or evidence of a past heart attack. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create moving images of the heart, which allows doctors to view blood pumping with each beat.
A chest X-ray can show the size of the heart; a stress test evaluates how the heart performs during exercise or under medication that simulates exertion. In cardiac catheterization, a thin tube is guided to the heart to examine the coronary arteries and measure pressures within the chambers. Cardiologists can assign a stage or functional class. This describes how far the condition has progressed and how much it limits physical activity.
Confer With a Cardiologist
Congestive heart failure is typically managed over the long term. A cardiologist can develop a care plan suited to the type, stage, and underlying causes of the condition, potentially involving medications, implanted devices, procedures, or changes to diet and activity. Evaluation is not limited to people with symptoms. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease, or a family history of heart conditions, a cardiologist can assess your risk and recommend appropriate monitoring. Regular follow-up visits let your care team track changes in heart function; this allows them to adjust your plan over time.
