

Sudden weight gain resulting from swelling is common. Edema also can occur in the fingers, abdomen and abdominal organs. Dizziness, lightheadedness and confusion.Įdema (persistent swelling) of the feet, ankles and legs is the most common symptom of heart failure in the right side of the heart.Low oxygen saturation levels: This results from the heart's inability to receive oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.Sodium remains in the body, causing water retention. Reduced urine output: With heart failure, the kidneys cannot function properly.With heart failure, a third sound becomes apparent: The walls of the heart's ventricles vibrate when blood fills the heart. Third heart sound: The normal heartbeat has two sounds made as the heart contracts (pumps blood) and expands (fills with blood).

Pulmonary crackles: Popping sounds occur when air is forced through lung passages narrowed by fluid build-up.Persistent cough: A seemingly unexplained cough produces pink phlegm containing blood.Extra pillows to prop up your upper body can help you breathe more easily in bed. Difficulty breathing may occur suddenly at night, but may subside by moving around. Shortness of breath: Shortness of breath often becomes a problem during physical activity, but also can happen during rest.Fluids within the lungs are pushed into breathing spaces, interrupting the normal flow of oxygen. As blood backs up in the lungs, pressure in the veins of the lungs increases. When the left side is not pumping correctly, blood backs up in the blood vessels of the lungs - pulmonary edema. The left side of the heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.

Left-sided heart failure is related to pulmonary congestion. While symptoms involving heart failure may be isolated to one area of the body, heart failure effects can be felt throughout the body and severely impair your quality of life. Sudden weight gain resulting from this swelling is common. Because a weakened heart cannot pump out enough blood, it has less room to accommodate blood returning from other parts of the body.
