Heart Failure Symptoms

The symptoms of heart failure include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue, weakness, faintness
• Swelling of the feet and ankles, or abdomen
• Weight gain
• Heart palpitations
• Irregular or rapid pulse
• Cough
• Frequent urination

If heart failure is left untreated, the damage to a person's heart and blood vessels can become life threatening. Heart failure complications include:

• Arrhythmias (disorder of the heart's rate or rhythm)
• Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
• Total heart failure
• Sudden death
  

Heart failure symptoms develop as the heart's pumping ability diminishes. People feel fatigued and weak because their hearts are unable to pump sufficient oxygen-rich blood to their tissues and organs. They develop shortness of breath and a cough as fluid builds up in their lungs. Swelling, weight gain, and frequent urination all result from the fluid buildup in their bodies. People start experiencing heart palpitations and a rapid pulse as their hearts struggle to pump harder.

Heart failure symptoms typically worsen over time and some symptoms might not develop until after there's been extensive damage to a person's heart and blood vessels. It's important for people who have one or more heart disease risk factors to get regular health checkups. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent heart disease complications from developing.