What it is
Common causes include coronary heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure and heart valve problems.
Medicines, lifestyle changes, devices such as special pacemakers, and sometimes surgery help. Weighing yourself daily can show fluid building up.
Common signs
- Breathlessness, especially with activity or lying flat
- Tiredness
- Swollen ankles and legs
- Sudden weight gain
- Feeling lightheaded
How it is usually diagnosed
- Blood tests, including NT-proBNP
- Echocardiogram
- ECG
- Chest X-ray
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Echocardiogram reports, including ejection fraction
- NT-proBNP and kidney function results
- A daily weight diary
- Cardiology letters and a list of medicines
Questions to ask your doctor
- What type of heart failure do I have?
- What should I do if my weight goes up quickly?
- How much fluid and salt should I have?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Severe breathlessness, chest pain, or coughing up pink frothy mucus: call 112
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.