Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a problem in which the heart does not pump as well as it should. Fluid backs up in the lungs or the legs because the flow of blood is slowed down.
What Is Left Sided Heart Failure?
People with left sided heart failure have fluid that backs up in the lungs causing any or all of these symptoms:
shortness of breath, coughing (sometimes coughing up frothy pink-tinged sputum) and/or difficulty breathing when lying down.
What Is Right Sided Heart Failure?
Right-sided heart failure can cause any or all of the following symptoms due to fluid retention: swollen legs and feet, upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure and sudden weight gain (10 pounds or more).
It is possible to have both left and right sided heart failure?
If this happens, you may have the following symptoms: fast heart rate, fatigue, confusion (due to poor blood flow to the brain) and paleness or blue color to the skin.
Congestive heart failure does not usually happen suddenly. It gradually worsens over the years.
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There are many diseases that can cause congestive heart failure (CHF)
The basic problems in all of them is a weak heart muscle, or damaged heart valves. The conditions that may lead to CHF are:
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Heart valve damage
High blood pressure
Disease of the heart muscle itself (cardiomyopathy)
Defects in the heart present at birth (congenital heart defects)
Infection of the heart valves and/or heart muscle itself (endocarditis/myocarditis)
The basic problems in all of them is a weak heart muscle, or damaged heart valves. The conditions that may lead to CHF are:
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Heart valve damage
High blood pressure
Disease of the heart muscle itself (cardiomyopathy)
Defects in the heart present at birth (congenital heart defects)
Infection of the heart valves and/or heart muscle itself (endocarditis/myocarditis)