No matter what you read on-line, keep in mind that there is an over-abundance of information that needs to be filtered and then seen as to whether or not the description fits you. Okay? On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to go over all this as I am so that if a friend or relative begins to display some of the symptoms, you can urge them to go see their doctor to get a check-up.
Heart Failure: Introduction
by: RightDiagnosis.com
Heart failure is a very serious condition in which the heart muscle has been damaged. Although the heart continues to beat in heart failure, it is too weak to pump sufficient amounts of oxygen-rich blood to and from the lungs and the rest of the body. Heart failure is a common complication of heart attack and other types of heart diseases and cardiovascular diseases that damage the heart muscle. These include hypertension, heart valve disorders, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. Heart failure can also result from anemia.
The primary symptom of heart failure is shortness of breath, which can occur at rest or with exertion. Shortness of breath often occurs when lying down and can interrupt sleep. It can be relieved to various degrees by sleeping in a semi-upright position.
Congestion and fluid in the lungs also leads to wheezing, chest pain, and an ongoing cough that brings up frothy phlegm that may be blood tinged. Fluid in the lungs also increases the risk of developing infections of the lungs, such as pneumonia, which can be fatal in some cases.
Symptoms can also include swelling (edema) of the feet, ankles, and legs. In severe cases, swelling can occur in the abdomen and arms as well. General symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and dizziness, confusion, restlessness, anxiety, and an alteration in consciousness, because the brain and body are not getting sufficient oxygen and nutrients to function properly.
There are two types of heart failure. In left-sided heart failure, the heart is not able to pump blood effectively out to the body, which results in blood backing up into the veins that carry blood from the lungs to the heart. This increases blood pressure in the lungs and leads to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This is called pulmonary edema and is a very serious condition, which can be fatal. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and low oxygen levels in the blood.
In right-sided heart failure, the weak pumping of the heart allows blood to back up in the veins that lead from the body to the heart. This leads to swelling of the lower extremities (edema) and other symptoms. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of heart failure.
Making a diagnosis of heart failure includes a complete medical evaluation, medical history and physical examination. If symptoms are acute and severe, this is often done in an emergency room. The physical exam includes listening to the sounds of the heart and the lungs with a stethoscope. Certain sounds, such as a crackling or bubbling sound on the lungs, indicate congestion in the lungs and may point to a diagnosis of heart failure.
A chest X-ray is generally performed to see the size and shape of the heart and can reveal lung congestion and other conditions, such as pneumonia. Other tests may include an echocardiogram, which can evaluate the heart valves and determine how much blood the heart is able to pump.
Other testing may be done to rule-out or diagnose underlying causes of heart failure or other conditions that can mimic heart failure. For example, testing generally includes an EKG, which takes a picture of the electrical activity of the heart and can reveal abnormalities in the rhythm of the heart and damage done to the heart due to heart attack and some other forms of heart disease. A coronary angiogram may also be performed to look for blocked coronary arteries.
It is possible that a diagnosis of heart failure can be missed or delayed because the symptoms may develop gradually, be mild and can be similar to symptoms of other conditions. For more information about misdiagnosis and diseases and conditions that can mimic heart failure, refer to misdiagnosis of heart failure.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of heart failure can vary between individuals and can differ depending on the severity of the disease and the underlying cause. In some cases, an individual may not have symptoms until the disease has progressed and become severe. Early symptoms can develop slowly.
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Heart failure includes the 22 symptoms listed below:
- Breathless with exertion
- Breathlessness
- Fatigue
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Fluid accumulation
- Generalized edema
- Swollen legs
- Swollen feet
- Swollen ankles
- Lung congestion
- Fluid accumulation
- Abnormal weight gain
- Persistent coughing
- Coughing up blood - in small amounts
- Raspy breathing
- Wheezing
- Heart enlargement
- Heart hypertrophy
- Night urination
Symptom Checkers:
Review the available symptom checkers for these symptoms of Heart failure:
- Fatigue -- Symptom Checker
- Tiredness -- Symptom Checker
- Weakness -- Symptom Checker
- Cough -- Symptom Checker
- Generalized edema -- Symptom Checker
- Swollen feet -- Symptom Checker
- Swollen ankles -- Symptom Checker
- Lung congestion -- Symptom Checker
- Abnormal weight gain -- Symptom Checker
- Coughing up blood -- Symptom Checker
- Wheezing -- Symptom Checker
- Heart enlargement -- Symptom Checker
- Night urination -- Symptom Checker
Causes:
Heart failure can have many causes, including coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms. It is too much to list now. See the full list HERE.
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