Congestive heart failure (CHF) develops when the heart is no longer able to effectively pump blood throughout the body. According to Penn State College of Medicine, the term "congestion" refers to the fact that lung congestion causes many of the symptoms that are associated with heart failure, although there are a variety of other symptoms that occur as well. Congestive heart failure can occur in the left side of the heart, the right side or both. The specific symptoms experienced will depend upon which side of the heart is affected by CHF.
Left Side CHF Symptoms
If congestive heart failure is affecting the left side of the heart, the symptoms often relate to breathing issues. Shortness of breath, wheezing and a persistent cough are related to the fact that fluid is building up inside the lungs. The National Institutes of Health explains that when the heart is functioning normally, it receives oxygen-rich blood and then pumps it out into the rest of the body. If CHF has begun, the left ventricle cannot efficiently pump the blood out of the heart, and blood and fluids back up into the lungs, causing pulmonary edema and leading to a cough that can also be accompanied by pinkish sputum, which means it is tinted with blood. Due to the lack of oxygen being processed and sent throughout the body, fatigue also sets in, as well as damage to organs that are not getting oxygen and nutrients.
Right Side CHF Symptoms
Right side CHF affects the blood that is pumped into the heart. According to the American Heart Association, as the flow of blood into the heart begins to slow, the backup of blood in the veins can cause the tissues in the body to swell as fluid is not being properly transported throughout the body. Symptoms often involve swollen ankles, legs and other parts of the body. causing congestion in the tissues. There may also be a lack of appetite and a reduction in food intake, yet at the same time you can experience weight gain due to the retention of water and sodium in the tissues of the body. As with left side CHF, fatigue will set in due to the lack of oxygen transport throughout the body.
Advanced Symptoms
While the above symptoms are serious signs that heart failure may have begun, the Texas Heart Institute reports that as heart failure progresses and the heart becomes weaker, more symptoms appear. Regardless of what side of the heart CHF may have begun on, over time both sides may be affected. Breathing becomes more difficult, affecting you when you are even at rest, especially lying down, due to the excess fluid in the lungs. You may experience mental confusion and memory lapses, and the fatigue begins to affect daily activities. Physical symptoms include cold, clammy skin and a visible swelling of the veins in the neck, causing them to appear more pronounced. Chest pain and an irregular and/or rapid heartbeat may also develop.
