Signs & Symptoms Heart & Vascular Show Heart Failure Signs and SymptomsHeart failure is a condition in which the heart fails to function properly. The terms "heart failure" and "congestive heart failure (CHF)" don't mean that the heart has actually "failed" or stopped but mean one or more chambers of the heart "fail" to keep up with the volume of blood flowing through them. Heart failure is brought on by a variety of underlying diseases and health problems. Your condition may involve the left side, the right side or both sides of the heart. Each side has two chambers:
Any one of these four chambers may not be able to keep up with the volume of blood flowing through it. Two types of heart dysfunction can lead to heart failure, including:
The left side of the heart is crucial for normal heart function and is usually where heart failure begins. The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it into the left ventricle, the heart's largest and strongest pump, which is responsible for supplying blood to the body. After it has circulated through the body, blood returns to the right atrium and then travels to the right ventricle, which pumps it into the lungs to be replenished with oxygen. When the right side loses pumping power, blood can back up in the veins attempting to return blood to the heart. Right heart failure may occur alone but is usually a result of left-sided failure. When the left ventricle fails, fluid backs up in the lungs. In turn, pressure from excess fluid can damage the heart's right side as it works to pump blood into the lungs. Heart failure usually is a chronic, or long-term, condition that gradually gets worse. By the time most people notice and see a doctor about their symptoms, the heart has been "failing," little by little, for a long time. This is a good reason to have regular health checkups. During a routine physical examination, your doctor may detect signs of heart failure long before you experience symptoms. Heart failure rarely occurs suddenly except after a major heart attack, severe heart valve problem or period of seriously high blood pressure. People who experience any of the symptoms associated with heart failure, even if they are mild, should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Once a person is diagnosed, it's important to keep track of symptoms and report any sudden changes. Typical signs of heart failure include:
These symptoms occur as the heart loses strength and the ability to pumped blood throughout the body. In turn, blood can back up and cause "congestion" in other body tissues, which is why heart failure sometimes is called "congestive." In addition, excess fluid may pool in the failing portion of the heart and the lungs. At the same time, the heart as well as other parts of the body attempt to adapt and make up for the deteriorating pumping ability. For example:
Although the body's ability to compensate for the failing heart initially is beneficial, in the long run these adaptations contribute to the most serious cases of heart failure. For example:
Eventually, the heart and body are unable to keep up with the added stress. If patients wait until they experience obvious symptoms of heart failure before seeing a doctor, the condition already may be life-threatening. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor as soon as possible. Which symptom is most commonly associated with rightThe main sign of right-sided heart failure is fluid buildup. This buildup leads to swelling (edema) in your: Feet, ankles and legs.
What happens when you have rightSo when you have right-side heart failure, the right chamber has lost its ability to pump. That means your heart can't fill with enough blood, and the blood backs up into the veins. If this happens, your legs, ankles, and belly often swell.
How do you detect rightTests used to diagnose right-sided heart failure include: Electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram studies, which can reveal elevated pulmonary artery pressure and may also reveal valvular heart disease or disease affecting the cardiac muscle2 Pulmonary function testing to confirm the presence and severity of COPD.
What is the difference between left and right heart failure?In left-sided heart failure, the left side of the heart is weakened and results in reduced ability for the heart to pump blood into the body. In right-sided heart failure, the right side of the heart is weakened and results in fluid in your veins, causing swelling in the legs, ankles, and liver.
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