Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms

By Author: Rob Thomas
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What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
Congestive heart failure is a ailment in which the heart's duty as a pump to carry oxygen filled blood to the body is inadequate to meet the body's needs. Congestive heart failure can be triggered by:
1.Diseases that weaken the muscles of the heart.
2. Sickness that build up oxygen need by the body tissue beyond the capability the heart can carry.
3. Sickness that cause stiffening of the heart muscles.
The heart has two atria (right atrium and left atrium) that make up the upper chambers of the heart, and two ventricles (left ventricle and right ventricle) that make up the lower chambers of the heart. The ventricles are muscular chambers that pump blood when the muscles contract; this contraction of the ventricle muscles is referred to as systole.
Many diseases can disrupt the pumping action of the ventricles; heart attacks or infections (myocarditis) are the two main examples of how the ventricle muscles can be slowed down. The weakened pumping ability of the ventricles due to muscle weakening is called systolic dysfunction. After ...
... each ventricular contraction the ventricle muscles need to rest to allow blood from the atria to fill the ventricles. This resting state is referred to as diastole.
In some patients, one or more of these factors may be present to lead to congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure can change many organs in the body. For example, the slowed heart muscles may not be able to give enough blood to the kidneys, which will then begin to lose their normal ability excrete salt (sodium) and water. This weakened kidney function can cause the body to retain more fluid. This may cause the lungs to become congested with fluid (pulmonary edema) and the person's ability to exercise is diminished. Fluid may likewise lodge in the liver, thereby impairing its ability to rid the body of toxins and produce essential proteins. The intestines may also become less effective in absorbing nutrients and medicines. Over time, untreated, worsening congestive heart failure will affect every organ in the body.
What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?
The sign of congestive heart failure differ among individuals according to the specific organ systems involved and depending on the extent to which the rest of the body has compensated for the heart muscle weakness.
Tiredness is an early sign of congestive heart failure. While tiredness is a sensitive indicator of possible underlying congestive heart failure, it is obviously a nonspecific symptom that may be caused by many other conditions. The persons exercising ability may also slow down. Patients may not notice this decrease and they may subconsciously reduce their activities to accommodate this limitation.
As fluid overloads the body from congestive heart failure, swelling (edema) of the ankles and legs or abdomen may be noticed.
Fluid may gather in the lungs, thereby causing shortness of breath, especially during exercise and when lying flat. There are even cases in which patients are awakened at night gasping for air.
Some may be unable to sleep unless sitting upright.
The extra fluid in the body may cause frequent urination, especially at night.
Accumulation of fluid in the liver and intestines may cause nausea, abdominal pain and decreased appetite.
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