Congestive Heart Failure

This page has been designed by the Health Care Professionals of Marquette General Hospital to provide you with information about Congestive Heart Failure (CHF):

• How it happens
• What the warning signs are
• What you can do about it

HOW IT HAPPENS

• The heart acts as a pump that pushes blood through the body. Certain conditions and diseases may weaken the heart’s pumping ability and can lead to CHF.
  
• The weakened heart, still trying to pump efficiently, will eventually become enlarged. When this occurs, blood cannot circulate properly and several things can happen:
  
• Since the blood is not pumped efficiently, there may be some seepage of fluid out of the blood vessels and into the lungs which can cause you to feel short of breath.

• Since it is blood that carries oxygen and nutrients through the body, any decrease in the amount of blood being pumped may result in weakness, dizziness, and/or fatigue.
  
• If the right side of the heart is affected, fluids and blood may accumulate in other parts of the body and cause swelling. This is called edema, and most often occurs in the feet and legs.

WARNING SIGNS
 

• Edema is a symptom of CHF. Swelling in the feet and legs may be caused by, varicose veins, standing for long periods of time, or other causes. This kind of swelling will be gone when you get up in the morning. In CHF, the swelling may go down when lying down or it may remain.
  
• Other signs of edema and CHF that should be reported to your doctor are:

• An increase in weight (5 pounds in a week or 2 to 3 pounds in a day) may indicate fluid retention. Another way to tell if fluid is increasing is to notice if you comfortable shoes begin to feel tight.
  
• If you can no longer do normal things such as housework, your job, washing, and other everyday tasks.
  
• Increased coughing
  
• Troubled breathing when lying down that improves when you sit up in bed, or shortness of breath during your usual activities.
  
• If you find that you are urinating (passing your water) more often during the night.
  
• If your pulse rate increases
  
• If you have abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and/or vomiting for more than one day.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you have CHF, your doctor will provide you with a treatment plan to help you maintain your health. You can help by following a few simple guidelines:

• Avoid wearing tight garters and girdles
  
• Do not cross your legs while sitting. When you do sit, try to put your feet up.
  
• Do not stand for long periods of time.
  
• Avoid fatigue by resting between activities. Do not get tired.
  
• Move slowly when getting up from bed or a chair to avoid feeling dizzy.
  
• Weigh yourself every day using the same scale with the same amount of clothes on and at the same time of day-usually after you have urinated and before breakfast.
  
• Stick to your drug schedule, even when you feel better. Inform your doctor of all medications you take, including over-the-counter medications. If you fell full all the time, even before you begin to eat, call your doctor. This may be caused by your medicine.
  
• Rest for one hour following meals before taking part in activities.

Additional health information is available through the MGH Health Information Center
(906) 225-4950 or 1-800-562-9753, ext 4950.

Additional health information is also available through the MGH Health Information Center
(906)225-4950 or 1-800-562-9753, ext.4950.

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