Heart Failure - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

Symptoms of heart failure depend on the type of heart failure you have and how serious it is. If you have mild heart failure, you may not notice any symptoms except during hard physical work. Symptoms can depend on whether you have left-sided or right-sided heart failure. However, you can have symptoms of both types. Symptoms usually get worse as your heart grows weaker.  

Heart failure can lead to serious and life-threatening complications. 

Symptoms 

The image shows the major symptoms of left-sided and right-sided heart failure.
The image shows the major symptoms of left-sided and right-sided heart failure.

One of the first symptoms you may notice is feeling short of breath after routine activities like climbing stairs. As your heart grows weaker, you may notice this while getting dressed or walking across the room. Some people have shortness of breath while lying flat. 

In addition, people who have left-sided heart failure may have the following symptoms. 

  • Trouble breathing 
  • Cough 
  • Fatigue (extreme tiredness even after rest) 
  • General weakness 
  • Bluish color of finger and lips  
  • Sleepiness and trouble concentrating 
  • Inability to sleep lying flat 

Older adults who do not get much physical activity may not experience shortness of breath. But they may feel tired and confused. 

People who have right-sided heart failure may also have the following symptoms: 

  • Nausea (feeling sick in the stomach) and loss of appetite 
  • Pain in your abdomen (area around your stomach)  
  • Swelling in your ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in your neck 
  • ​​​​​​​Needing to pee often 
  • Weight gain 

Complications 

Heart failure can cause the following serious complications: 

  • Kidney or liver damage because of reduced blood flow and fluid buildup in your organs 
  • ​​​​​​​Fluid buildup in or around your lungs 
  • ​​​​​​​Malnutrition because nausea and swelling in your abdomen (area around your stomach) can make it uncomfortable for you to eat. Reduced blood flow to your stomach can make it harder to absorb nutrients from your food. 
  • Other heart conditions, such as an irregular heartbeat, leaking heart valves , or sudden cardiac arrest 
  • Pulmonary hypertension 

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