Congestive Heart Failure

• Heart failure means the heart can’t pump blood efficiently throughout the body.
• If blood is not pumping well, you may feel weak, tired or dizzy.
• Heart failure causes water to leak from your blood vessels, filling the lungs and making you short of breath. It can also cause your legs, hands, feet and abdomen to swell.

• High blood pressure
• Irregular heart beat
• Lung disease
• High salt consumption
• Heart attacks, clogged or blocked arteries
• Diabetes
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Infection
• Heart valve problems
• Birth defects

Call 911 if you experience:

• Chest discomfort or pain lasting more than 15 minutes
• An inability to catch your breath
• Fainting or passing out
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Coughing up pink or white foamy mucus

Call your doctor if you experience:

• Weight gain of three pounds in one day or five pounds in one week
• Abnormal shortness of breath
• Swelling in legs, feet, hands or abdomen
• Feeling too tired to do normal activities
• Bloated/full feeling in stomach or loss of appetite
• Dry or wet hacking cough
• Difficulty breathing while lying down/unable to rest
• Dizzy or lightheaded feeling