If you have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, it means your heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood and oxygen to your body. This condition can be the result of diseases within the arteries, such as arteriosclerosis, or a problem with the actual heart muscle. You can also be born with this condition. Because your heart can not pump out as much blood as it used to, blood and fluid back up in the lungs and other tissues, causing congestion. When the body cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, several symptoms will appear. Your symptoms may be mild at first in the early stages of the disease and then worsen as the condition progresses.
Shortness of Breath
According to the Texas Heart Institute, if you have congestive heart failure even mild activity and everyday tasks can cause you to lose your breath. You may find it harder to breathe when lying down flat. In some cases your inability to catch your breath can become disabling. Also, you may feel extremely fatigued and cough or wheeze, especially at night. Your cough may or may not produce mucus or a pinkish, blood-tinged sputum.
Edema
The American Heart Association states that because the heart muscle is not adequately pumping blood, your legs, ankles and feet may swell as fluid accumulates in them. Fluid can also build up in the liver, stomach and lungs, especially when you are lying down. If you have edema you may need to urinate frequently. When your heart cannot do its job, the kidneys also have trouble excreting salt and water. As this happens your edema may worsen.
Additional Symptoms
With congestive heart failure you may experience weight gain from fluid retention, chest pain, indigestion, decreased appetite, nausea, irregular heartbeat and your skin may be cold and sweaty. You may also notice that you become confused easily and have trouble with your memory and when trying to concentrate. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute states that in rare cases you may also have swelling in the veins of the neck.
Severe Symptoms
The National Institutes of Health suggests that if you notice certain symptoms you need to call your doctor. This includes waking up at night to catch your breath, gaining more then 2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in five days, a cough that does not go away or severe dizziness. In addition, your condition may be changing if you notice that your heartbeat irregularities are worse or that your medication is not controlling your symptoms as well.
