Failing to keep the heart healthy can have major consequences. A heart attack or any other injury to the heart may cause irreversible damage, otherwise known as congestive heart failure (CHF). The Centers for Disease Control reports the estimated health cost associated with CHF for 2010 at more than 39.2 billion dollars. Recognizing symptoms can lead to early diagnosis and treatment to improve quality of life and prevent the late stages of CHF.
Dyspnea
One of the common symptoms of congestive heart failure is shortness of breath. The heart works by pumping blood forward out of the heart and throughout the body. This is how tissues obtain oxygen in order to meet metabolic needs. Afterward, this blood is returned to the lungs for more oxygen. A heart that is damaged structurally, can not pump blood forward efficiently through blood vessels. When this occurs, blood spills back into the lungs and subsequently the extremities, where it pools. Fluid in the lungs is the cause of the shortness of breath in addition to unavailable oxygen to meet energy needs.
Orthopnea
The clinical term for having trouble breathing when lying down is called orthopnea. Orthopnea is usually seen in Stage "C" CHF, according to the American College of Cardiology (ACC). While standing, gravity helps pull fluid out of the lungs; when lying down, this does not occur. A weakened heart allows pooling of blood in the lungs without the assistance of gravity, making it more difficult to breathe while lying down. This may be recognized when patients require more than one pillow to improve their breathing.
Fatigue
When the heart is not pumping optimally, tissues do not get the required amount of oxygen necessary to perform metabolic functions. Poor oxygen exchange in the lungs due to fluid overload and poor exchange in outlying tissues results in fatigue or extreme tiredness. Fatigue may be more noticeable after a period of increased movement or exercise. When patients exercise or move around, tissues require more oxygen. Instead of being able to walk two blocks or more, for example, patients are reduced to walking less than one. An obvious decrease in exercise tolerance is recognized as a sign of CHF or worsening CHF.
Weight Gain
Moderate to severe congestive heart failure patients exhibit an abnormal weight gain, according to the ACC. This is due to fluid accumulation in areas affected by gravity: the legs, ankles and lower back. Fluid leaves the blood and enters tissue. This is what is referred to as fluid retention, or edema. Loss of fluid from the blood signals the kidney that there is a fluid loss and seeks to retain sodium and therefore fluid. Fluid retention is the cause of weight gain and the reason why congestive heart failure patients are required to follow strict low sodium-diets. Sodium causes the body to retain additional fluid, adding to the problem.
