Symptoms of heart failure are:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing with exercise, at rest or when lying flat in bed. Some people may think shortness of breath is a lung problem. It is your heart condition that causes episodes of shortness of breath. You can also wake up suddenly at night with a disruption of your normal sleep patterns.

• A dry, hacking cough or wheezing.

• Swollen ankles, legs, abdomen and weight gain.

• A need to urinate while resting at night and/or an increased need to urinate during the night.

• Fatigue and weakness during exercise or activities.

• Dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating or fainting.

• Rapid or irregular heartbeats (palpitations).

• Other symptoms may include a feeling of fullness (bloating) in your stomach, loss of appetite or nausea.

If you experience heart failure you may have one or all of these symptoms or you may have no symptoms at all.

Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in people over age 65. Women tend to develop heart failure with preserve left ventricular function and with a more normal ejection fraction than men. In general, women survive longer than men with heart failure.

In women, heart failure is often related to high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, valve disease and diabetes. The signs and symptoms of heart failure are the same among men and women, although women tend to have more symptoms of exercise difficulty and shortness of breath than do men. Women also experience ankle swelling more frequently than men.

Causes of heart failure:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart defects present at birth
• Diabetes Mellitus
• High blood pressure
• Arrhythmia
• Chronic kidney disease
• Obesity

Heart failure also occurs when several diseases or conditions are present at one time.

Treatment of heart failure:

• Medications
• Managing other problems
• Regular exercise
• Quit smoking
• Discontinue alcohol or illegal drug use

Medical team members of a heart failure patient often include:

• Nurses
• Dietitians
• Pharmacists
• Exercise specialists
• Social workers

Although heart failure patients normally have a full team of medical care professionals it is still ultimately up to the patient to properly take medications, make recommended dietary changes, live a healthy lifestyle, keep follow-up appointments and be an active member of the health care team.

Prognosis for persons with heart failure:

• With the right care, heart failure does not stop you from doing the things in life you enjoy. Individual prognosis depends on how well the heart muscle is functioning, the symptoms experienced and how well you respond to and follow your treatment plan.

An advance directive or living will is a valuable document to have ready if you have a long term illness such as heart failure. A living will expresses your desires about the use of medical treatment to prolong your life. The document is prepared while you are fully competent. If there is ever a time you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself, the document will serve as your statements of preferred care.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

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