What exactly is congestive heart failure one may ask? Congestive heart failure also called Coronary Heart failure (CHF) is manifested by the hearts inability to adequately perfuse blood to the rest of the body. Heart failure can affect both the left and right side of the heart. The left side of your heart is responsible for pumping deoxygenated blood into the lungs and sending oxygenated blood out. When the left side fails it gradually backs up into the lungs and blood is not pushed out; this is what causes pulmonary congestion. When this occurs it can eventually leads to Right-sided heart failure. According to the American Heart Association when the left ventricle fails, increased fluid pressure is in effect and transferred back through the lungs, which ultimately damages the heart 's right side. When the right side of the heart loses pumping power, blood backs up in the body 's veins. What are the signs and symptoms of CHF?
Signs and symptoms of CHF include but are not limited to shortness of breath (dyspnea), coughing, edema (common in the swelling of the legs), and fatigue. Since congestive heart failure starts normally on the left side it is common for a person to have dyspnea, coughing, and fatigue. These are symptoms that are tied into lung function. In right-sided heart failure, swelling is most common due to blood backing up in the veins. This is easily seen in the lower extremities due to the fact they are the furthest away from the body according to Mosby.
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