CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

Chronic Heart Failure



Chronic Heart Failure

Symptoms

The cardinal symptoms of CHF include shortness of breath (dyspnea), cough, swelling of the feet and ankles (peripheral edema), and chronic fatigue. The impaired ability of the heart to pump blood results in blood “backing up” into the pulmonary veins, with leaking of fluid into the lung tissue (pulmonary edema). Pulmonary edema contributes to dyspnea and cough. Fluid leaks out from other veins, causing peripheral edema. Reduced perfusion of muscles, as the body attempts to direct impaired blood flow to more vital organs such as the brain and kidneys, contributes to fatigue (Hunt, ...