What Are The Symptoms Of Chronic Left-sided Heart Failure And Right-sided Heart Failure?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Type of Description Left-sided heart failure Fluid may back up in the lungs, causing shortness of breath. Right-sided heart failure Fluid may back up into the abdomen, legs and feet, causing swelling.
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What are the signs and symptoms of right and left-sided heart failure?

  • trouble breathing.
  • shortness of breath.
  • coughing, especially during exertion.
  • shortness of breath when lying down.
  • sleeping on extra pillows at night.

What is the difference between right and left-sided congestive heart failure and how the affect the body?

Left-sided heart failure is usually caused by coronary artery disease (CAD), a heart attack or long-term high blood pressure.

Right-sided heart failure generally develops as a result of advanced left-sided heart failure

, and is then treated in the same way.

Which symptom is most commonly associated with left-sided heart failure?

The symptoms of left-sided heart failure are the generally the same for heart failure broadly and include:

Shortness of breath

.

Difficulty breathing when lying down

.

Weight gain with swelling in the feet, legs, ankles

.

What indicates left-sided heart failure?


Edema, fatigue, and shortness of breath

—even in the absence of chest pain—can be signs of a failing heart. The left ventricle (LV) is the chamber that is responsible for pumping blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Dysfunction of the left ventricle leads to two types of heart failure: systolic and diastolic.

What are the signs of worsening heart failure?

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
  • Weight gain of three or more pounds in one day.
  • Weight gain of five pounds in one week.
  • Unusual swelling in the legs, feet, hands, or abdomen.
  • A persistent cough or chest congestion (the cough may be dry or hacking)

Is left or right sided heart failure worse?

But usually it's left-side heart failure that

causes right-side heart failure

. As the left chamber of your heart loses some of its ability to pump, blood continues to back up — sometimes into your lungs. Heart failure is a long-term condition that gets worse over time.

Where in the body you would see edema related to left-sided heart failure?

Left-sided heart failure: This is most likely to involve edema (swelling)

congestion in the lungs

, accompanied by difficulty breathing. Right-sided heart failure: This typically results in edema in the feet, ankles, legs, fingers, abdomen and abdominal organs.

How long can you live with left ventricular failure?

In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will

survive five years

. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.

What happens when the left ventricle fails?

When the left ventricle fails,

increased fluid pressure is, in effect, transferred back through the lungs

, ultimately damaging the heart's right side. When the right side loses pumping power, blood backs up in the body's veins.

Is coughing a symptom of heart failure?

While most people associate coughing as a common symptom that accompanies lung or respiratory issues, its connection to heart failure often goes unnoticed. This is called a cardiac cough, and it often happens to those with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Which of the following symptoms might a client with right-sided heart failure exhibit?

1 Symptoms of right-sided heart failure, such as

dyspnea (shortness of breath)

, edema (swelling of the limbs), and fatigue can be severe.

What does it mean if the left side of your heart is enlarged?


Left ventricular hypertrophy

is a thickening of the wall of the heart's main pumping chamber. This thickening may result in elevation of pressure within the heart and sometimes poor pumping action. The most common cause is high blood pressure.

Why is left sided heart failure the primary cause of right-sided heart failure?

The left ventricle does not pump blood efficiently. This leads to

pressure buildup behind the left side of the heart

that, over time, causes the right side of the heart to fail.

Why does right-sided heart failure cause edema?

When the right side of the heart weakens,

blood coming in from the veins can start to back up

. This is called right-sided heart failure, which usually results in edema in the lower extremities.

Do you sleep a lot with heart failure?

Fatigue. Heart failure can make you feel worn out. Things that wouldn't have tired you out in the past suddenly do. You're more likely to feel tired all of the time with advanced heart failure.

How quickly does heart failure progress?

Symptoms can develop quickly (acute heart failure) or

gradually over weeks or months

(chronic heart failure).

What is the difference between congestive heart failure and heart failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscle. While often referred to simply as heart failure, CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up within the heart and

causes it to pump inefficiently

.

Does heart failure cause weakness in legs?

Heart failure is a common condition, affecting approximately 5 million people in the United States. People with heart failure are encouraged to exercise and lose weight. However, many people with heart failure

develop weakness in their leg muscles

, which can make exercise difficult.

Which of the following effects will one see if there is a right-sided heart failure?

In right-sided heart failure, the heart's right ventricle is too weak to pump enough blood to the lungs. As blood builds up in the veins, fluid gets pushed out into the tissues in the body. Right-sided heart failure symptoms include

swelling and shortness of breath

.

Should you elevate legs with heart failure?

When you have heart failure, your heart pumps less forcefully. This means it can't push blood through distant veins easily. You can give your heart a “gravity assist” by elevating your feet

and legs as soon as you notice them starting to swell

.

How does left sided heart failure affect kidney filtration?

Relatively recent research has shown that heart failure is a significant risk factor for kidney disease. When the heart is no longer pumping efficiently it becomes congested with blood, causing

pressure to build up in the main vein connected to the kidneys

and leading to congestion of blood in the kidneys, too.

Which leg swells with CHF?

So one of the first symptoms of

right-side CHF

can include swelling in the feet and ankles. If the condition gets worse, the swelling can even go up past the knees.

Can left ventricular failure be cured?


There is no cure for severe LV dysfunction that

leads to heart failure. Personalized treatment plans prescribed by experienced cardiologists can help improve health conditions and quality of life.

Is heart failure a death sentence?

Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in your body. Heart failure is a serious condition, but it does not mean that the heart has stopped beating. Although it can be a severe disease,

heart failure is not a death sentence

, and treatment is now better than ever.

What foods should be avoided with congestive heart failure?

  • Salt (Sodium) When you have heart failure, you absolutely must avoid salt. …
  • Potato Chips. Potato chips represent a classic “worst food” for people with heart failure because they're high in both fat and sodium. …
  • Wine. …
  • White Bread. …
  • Water.

What are the 4 stages of congestive heart failure?

There are four stages of heart failure (

Stage A, B, C and D

). The stages range from “high risk of developing heart failure” to “advanced heart failure,” and provide treatment plans.

Is an enlarged left ventricle to heart life threatening?

An enlarged left ventricle, one of the most serious types of enlarged heart,

increases the risk of heart failure

. In heart failure, your heart muscle weakens, and the ventricles stretch (dilate) to the point that the heart can't pump blood efficiently throughout your body.

Does heart failure make you tired?

As your heart works overtime,

it can cause tiredness, shortness of breath

and a feeling of being simply worn out. Such are the signs of fatigue, one of the most common symptoms of congestive heart failure.

How is left ventricular failure diagnosed?

  1. Rales on lung auscultation indicative of pulmonary edema.
  2. Decreased breath sounds on lung auscultation suggestive of pleural effusion.
  3. S3 gallop on heart auscultation indicative of elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.

How is left axis deviation treated?

If high blood pressure is the cause of LVH, then treatment is targeted at

lowering blood pressure

and preventing further enlargement of the left ventricle by using medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers, diuretics, …

Is diarrhea a symptom of heart failure?

These splanchnic hemodynamic changes may also be responsible for the abdominal discomfort, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea common in advanced HF.

What are the signs and symptoms of heart failure select all that apply?

  • fatigue.
  • sudden weight gain.
  • a loss of appetite.
  • persistent coughing.
  • irregular heart rate.
  • heart palpitations.
  • abdominal swelling.
  • shortness of breath.

What are the signs and symptoms of cor pulmonale?

  • Fainting spells during activity.
  • Chest discomfort, usually in the front of the chest.
  • Chest pain.
  • Swelling of the feet or ankles.
  • Symptoms of lung disorders, such as wheezing or coughing or phlegm production.
  • Bluish lips and fingers (cyanosis)

Which is a key diagnostic indicator of heart failure?


A displaced cardiac apex, a third heart sound, and chest radiography findings of pulmonary venous congestion or interstitial edema

are good predictors to rule in the diagnosis of heart failure.

What types of heart failure are associated with left sided heart failure?

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome.
  • Angina.
  • Aortic Aneurysm/Enlarged Aorta.
  • Aortic Arch Aneurysm.
  • Aortic Dissection.
  • Aortic Valve Regurgitation.
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis.

What happens during left sided heart failure?

Left-sided heart failure: The left ventricle of the heart no longer pumps enough blood around the body. As a result, blood builds up in the pulmonary veins (the blood vessels that carry blood away from the lungs). This causes shortness of breath,

trouble breathing or coughing

– especially during physical activity.

What are the key problems that occur in heart failure?

Heart failure signs and symptoms may include:

Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down

.

Fatigue and weakness

.

Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet

.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.