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Heart Failure
Learn what heart failure is, and its symptoms.
What is Heart Failure?
The CDC estimates that 6.2 million people are living with heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the needs of the body’s other organs. If you have this condition, your heart keeps pumping, but not as efficiently as a healthy heart. Usually, the loss in the heart’s pumping action is a symptom of an underlying heart problem.
Heart failure is a serious condition requiring medical attention and oversight, along with your active participation in managing symptoms and seeking appropriate care.
Common Symptoms of Heart Failure
If you suffer from heart failure, your symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath during rest, exercise, or lying flat
- Weight gain
- Visible swelling of the legs and ankles and, occasionally, the abdomen (due to a build-up of fluid)
- Fatigue and weakness
- Loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal pain
- Persistent cough — often producing mucus or blood-tinged sputum
- Reduced urination
The Parkwest Heart Failure Patient Information Guide
If you or a loved one is being treated for heart failure, Parkwest has developed a free Heart Failure Patient Information Guide to help. This booklet includes:
- Details about heart failure and how it is diagnosed and treated
- Lifestyle information to help you be as healthy and active as possible while dealing with heart failure
- Tracking sheets to record information that will be helpful for you and your healthcare provider
- A list of resources and services within Covenant Health