Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Causes

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Faulty heart valves
• Damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
• Myocarditis
• Heart defects present at birth
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Other diseases such as diabetes, HIV, thyroid disease, or a buildup of iron or protein

Symptoms

• Shortness of breath when you exert yourself or when you lie down
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in your legs, ankles and feet
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
• Increased need to urinate at night
• Swelling of your abdomen (ascites)
• Very rapid weight gain from fluid retention
• Nausea and lack of appetite
• Difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness

Treatment

Heart failure treatment depends on the type and severity of the heart failure. Treatments may include lifestyle changes, medications, and in some cases surgery or devices such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).