Symptoms of Heart failure
Symptoms of heart failure are largely determined by side of the heart (left or right), which fails. The symptoms of heart failure are mainly due to an accumulation of fluid in the lungs and the body.
These symptoms are based on the affected side of the heart, which include the following:
Predominant left-sided heart failure:
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath at rest or with activities).
- Orthopnea (shortness of breath when lying down flat).
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (shortness of breath at night causing sudden awakenings).
Predominant right-sided heart failure:
- Pedal edema (fluid retention in the legs)
- Ascites (excess fluid in peritoneal cavity)
- Congestive hepatomegaly (liver enlargement)
- Anasarca (generalized edema)
- Other gastrointestinal symptoms caused by congestion of the liver and gastrointestinal venous circulation include abdominal bloating, nausea and constipation.
Heart failure can be identified with the presence of signs such as
- Jugular venous distention
- Abdominal jugular reflux
- Pulmonary rales
- Displacement of cardiac apical pulsation or
- Presence of a gallop heart sound (S3)
Next page: Diagnosis of Heart failure
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: April 15, 2012