Congestive heart failure is the stage when fluids build up all around the heart, which causes it not to pump as well as it should. Your heart consists of four chambers which are divided into the atria and the ventricles. The upper two chambers consist of atria, and the lower two chambers consist of ventricles which pump blood to the body’s organs and tissues. Congestive heart failure arises when the ventricles are unable to pump enough blood to the body.

Listed below are the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure:

• Shortness of breath when lying down or when exerting yourself
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swollen ankles, legs and feet
• Irregular heartbeat
• Decreased ability to exercise
• A constant need to urinate at night
• Appetite lacking and nausea
• Swelling in abdomen
• Coughing up pink, foamy mucus
• Reduced alertness

To make a diagnosis for congestive heart failure, Dr Naicker will review your medical history, your symptoms and perform a physical exam. After the physical exam, he might do tests which include blood tests, chest x-ray, stress test, echocardiogram, coronary angiogram, electrocardiogram and a cardiac CT scan.

Heart failure, being a chronic disease, requires lifelong management. Treatment includes medications such as angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors to open up the blood vessels and improve blood flow, beta-blockers which reduce blood pressure and slow rapid heart rhythm and diuretics to reduce your body’s fluid content.