Signs & Symptoms of Right-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure is a condition where the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through the heart to supply the need in the body. Without adequate blood supply, the body cannot get enough oxygen.

Right-Sided Heart Failure

• Right-sided heart failure is when the right ventricle in the heart loses its power to pump blood and the blood backs up into the veins.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of right-sided failure are shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, weakness, swelling in the feet and ankles, and increased urinating at night.

Triggers to Symptoms

• Some things that trigger right-sided heart failure are stress, increased fluid intake, increased salt intake, left-sided heart failure, fevers and infections.

Causes

• Some causes of right-sided failure are left-sided failure, lung disease such as emphysema and bronchitis, clots in the pulmonary arteries, valve disease, and congenital heart disease.

Treatment

• The best treatment for right-sided failure is to fix left-sided failure. Reducing the amount of fluids and salt intake also can help prevent symptoms. In addition, a doctor can prescribe fluid pills and medicines to help decrease the heart's workload.