Congestive Heart Failure (cont.)

When to Seek Medical Care

Often cardiologists who specialize in heart failure can work together with primary care doctors and other health care providers. Certain symptoms need to be checked by a doctor. If you have any of these symptoms, call your health care provider for an appointment. If the symptoms are severe or of sudden onset, seek immediate emergency care.

• You have shortness of breath that seems to be getting worse or causes difficulty sleeping.
  
  
• You fall asleep in bed but wake up at night with shortness of breath.
  
  
• You sleep better in a semi-upright position in a chair or recliner than flat in bed.
  
  
• Your shortness of breath develops with mild exertion and is worse than usual.
  
  
• You have unusual fatigue that is not relieved with rest.
  
  
• You have a dry cough that will not go away or seems otherwise unusual.
  
  
• You have swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs that does not go away.

Other, more subtle symptoms of heart failure warrant a visit to your health care provider, especially if linked to any of the symptoms already listed.

• Abdominal bloating or discomfort
  
  
• Persistently pale skin
  
  
• Poor appetite

Other than childbirth, congestive heart failure is the most common reason for hospital admission in the United States, especially for people older than 65 years. This highlights the fact that many people with heart failure will have to go to the hospital, either at the beginning of their illness or from time to time because of it.

Always take chest pain seriously. Although failure of the heart does not cause pain, several important conditions associated with congestive heart failure do.

If these symptoms develop quickly or worsen rapidly, seek emergency treatment.

• Shortness of breath
  
  
• Severe, unrelieved chest pain
  
  
• Swelling in the legs that becomes painful, even in one leg, especially if associated with signs of an infection (redness, warmth to the touch, fever)
  
  
• Fainting