Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms
Usually, when a person is suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF), they may not notice the symptoms as they are not that obvious. The initial congestive heart failure symptoms are shortness of breath, and feeling more tired than usual. However, a person does not bother to seek medical attention as they do not think too much about these symptoms. |
In addition, the person may suffer from cough and feel that he or she is unable to take a deep breath. But they may dismiss the symptoms as those of the common cold, bronchitis or flu and take a medication for one of these. The problem with congestive heart failure is that it may be present in a person with several other problems, including bronchitis, common cold or flu.
However, the main congestive heart failure symptoms are as follows:
Inability to do exercise or any small physical activity like the person performed previously before the onset of congestive heart failure. Usually, this is because when a person does a physical activity, the demand for oxygen by the exerted parts of the body increases. However, the heart is unable to meet this enhanced demand and hence, the person feels tired and out of breath by doing small and insignificant physical tasks. As the condition worsens, even simple physical activity like walking take a huge effort and the person will find it difficult to do household chores like vacuuming the house, dusting or even washing dishes. The person will experience shortness of breath that tends to normalize once the person gets some rest.
So, the second symptom of CHF is shortness of breath. The person will find it difficult to breath, especially when doing some activity. As the disease progresses, it causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs leading to pulmonary edema. This, in turn, worsens the shortness of breath, and the person will also suffer from coughing. As more and more fluid accumulates in the lungs, the person may begin to cough up frothy pink colored liquid.
The other main symptom of CHF is edema in the ankles, feet and legs. Usually, this will be more pronounced towards the end of the day or when the person stands or sits for a prolonged period of time. At times, the edema may turn so severe that it can affect the scrotum, walls of the abdomen, hips and finally the abdominal cavity resulting in ascites.
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Congestive heart failure, also known as CHF, occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficient amounts of blood to the various parts of the body. When this happens, other organs of the body are also affected. Also, a person suffering from CHF will have edema in different parts of the body, especially the ankles, feet and legs, which occurs due to the blood backing up in the tissues. Also, the person will suffer from pulmonary edema due to the same reason.