Heart Failure
Congestive Heart Failure

When your heart does not pump your blood, fluid starts to build up in your body because your heart is not beating like it should. This is called heart failure.

Causes:

There are several different causes, but the cause may not always be found. Some common causes are:

• Coronary artery disease (narrowing of the blood vessels to your heart)
• Problems with your heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Problems with any of the valves in your heart
• Abnormal heart rhythms (too fast or too slow)
• Alcohol or drug abuse

Symptoms:

• Have shortness of breath, especially when walking or going upstairs
• Feel short of breath when you lie flat in bed
• Wake up in the middle of the night suddenly and feel breathless
• Feel tired or weak
• Swelling in your feet or ankles
• Gain weight fast, like 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lb.) a day for 3 days in a row
• Cough that does not go away

Treatment:

There are several different medications that your doctor may choose from. Sometimes, it takes time to find the right medication and the right amount for you to take. Below are some different types of medications and what they do:

• Ace inhibitors: help to open your arteries and lower your BP. This helps to improve your blood flow.
• Diuretics: "water pills". They help to keep fluid from building up in your body by making you pee more. They help to decrease the fluid that collects in your lungs.
• Beta blockers: help improve your blood flow and may help prevent some heart rhythm problems.
• Digoxin: helps your heart pump better.

You will need to have your blood checked, as directed by your doctor, to see what your potassium level and kidney function is. It is very important to take your medications exactly as you are told.

Return to the Emergency Department IF:

• You feel short of breath
• You have swelling in your feet or ankles
• You gain 1.5 to 2kg (3 to 5 lb.) in 1 or 2 days (weigh yourself each morning after peeing but before you eat)
• Any other symptoms of heart failure
• Any problems with your medications