Signs & Symptoms of Congestive Heart Disease

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a potentially deadly condition. The Mayo Clinic reports that a person with CHF has a heart that is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It is typically a chronic condition that develops slowly over time. The symptoms that it causes can lead to a severe reduction in the quality of life.

Chronic

• People that suffer from chronic CHF have numerous symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic the individual can suffer from fatigue; rapid or irregular heartbeats; reduced ability to exercise; coughing or wheezing; swelling in legs, ankles, feet or abdomen; and a loss of appetite. The symptoms of this type of congestive heart failure usually have to be managed with a variety of methods such as medication, exercising and dietary restrictions.

Acute

• Acute congestive heart failure is the most severe type of congestive heart failure. The symptoms are quite similar to that of chronic CHF but they will be much more severe. A person with acute CHF will also have problems with sudden fluid buildup, coughing up pink frothy liquid, severe chest pains and the heart may suddenly stop beating. This type of CHF severely limits the quality of life the person will live.

Left-Sided CHF

• Left-sided CHF is the most common form of CHF. The left ventricle of the heart provides the majority of pumping power to get the blood to the rest of the body. When the left ventricle fails, it pushes blood back into the lungs. This can cause problems with breathing, coughing and severe fluid buildup in the lungs.

Right-Sided CHF

• The American Heart Association reports that right-sided CHF usually appears as a result of left-sided CHF because when the left ventricle fails the blood is pushed back to the right side, which causes damage. This type of CHF causes blood to back up into your abdomen, legs and feet. This can cause severe swelling of the abdomen and lower extremities.

Systolic

• Systolic CHF occurs along with left-sided CHF. According to the Mayo Clinic, systolic CHF means the left ventricle of the heart cannot contract as needed and makes the heart unable to pump properly. A person with systolic CHF may exhibit signs such as an increased fluid buildup. They may also have problems with circulation and suffer from swelling in the legs, feet and toes.

Diastolic

• Diastolic CHF also occurs along with left-sided CHF. According to the American Heart Association diastolic congestive heart failure is caused when the left ventricle loses its ability to relax. This is caused when the muscle becomes very stiff. This makes the heart unable to fill properly with blood. This particular condition has symptoms such as quick onset pulmonary edema. This quick onset of pulmonary edema can be severe and cause breathlessness. The onset can be so quick that it is sometimes referred to as a "flash" episode. This type of edema can be life threatening in some people, so prompt medical treatment is very important.