Symptoms of Heart Failure
You may not have any symptoms of heart failure, or the symptoms may be mild to severe. Symptoms can be constant or can come and go.
Heart failure symptoms are related to the changes that occur to your heart and body.
Shortness of breath
Occurs with exercise or rest or when lying flat in bed.
Fluid backs up in the lungs,
causing shortness of breath and, often, a hacking cough.
Dizziness
Less blood to the brain causes dizziness.
Tiredness (fatigue) and weakness
Less blood to the major organs and muscles causes fatigue.
Rapid or irregular heartbeats
The heart beats faster to pump enough blood to the body. This causes a fast or irregular heartbeat.
Swelling in ankles, legs and abdomen and weight gain
Less blood to your kidneys causes the kidneys to retain fluid and water, resulting in edema (swelling) and water weight gain.
Other heart failure symptoms: nausea, palpitations, chest pain, waking suddenly at night unable to breathe, changes in sleep pattern.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms (what they feel like, how strong they are, what causes them and how long they last). Your symptoms may not be related to how weak your heart is. You may have many symptoms and your heart function may be mildly weakened. Or you may have a more severely damaged heart but have no symptoms.
Learn more:
If you need more information, click here to contact us , chat online with a nurse or call the Heart and Vascular Institute Resource & Information Nurse at 216/445-9288 or toll-free at 866/289-6911. We would be happy to help you.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 3/06
