Heart Failure Symptoms, Heart Doctor

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What are the symptoms of heart failure?

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 weakenend. Or you may have a more severely damaged heart but have no symptoms.

See When to Call the Doctor About Your Heart Failure Symptoms


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