Heart Failure

Add save! | | |
 

At first you may not have any symptoms from heart failure. But as your heart has more trouble pumping enough blood to your body, you may get short of breath when you walk or do other activities. You also may feel very tired.

Your heart will try to make up for heart failure by pumping faster and by pumping more blood with each beat. But over time, these efforts can make your heart weaker and can make symptoms worse.

Main symptoms of heart failure

Symptom

What happens?

Shortness of breath

  • You can't catch your breath.
  • You feel tightness in your chest.
  • You feel tired when you walk.
  • You need to stop a lot when you walk.
  • It may get worse when you lie flat, and it may wake you up at night.

Swelling in the feet and ankles

  • It gets worse at the end of the day or after you stand for long periods.
  • It may hurt.
  • Pressure can leave impressions in your skin.
  • Shoes may no longer fit.

Being very tired (fatigue)

  • You have less energy and feel more tired than usual.
  • You can't exert yourself like you could before.

Abnormal heartbeat

  • Your heart races or pounds.
  • Your heart skips beats (palpitations).

Change in urination

  • You urinate more at night.

Weight gain

  • Fluid builds up, and weight goes up quickly.

How doctors talk about heart failure

  • Heart failure is grouped—or classified—according to symptoms. Your treatment is based partly on what class of symptoms you have.
  • There's also another way to define heart failure. It's based on the stages you might go through as your heart failure gets worse. Your doctor also may make treatment choices based on your stage of heart failure.

Symptoms of sudden heart failure

Sometimes your symptoms may get worse very quickly. This is called sudden heart failure. It causes fluid to build up in your lungs, causing congestion. (This is why the problem is often called congestive heart failure.) Symptoms may include:

  • Severe shortness of breath.
  • An irregular or fast heartbeat.
  • Coughing up foamy, pink mucus.

Sudden heart failure is an emergency. You need care right away.

More information

By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: December 15, 2010
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Advertisement

See All Boards

find discussions about...

See All Tools

See All News