SYMPTOM OF HEART FAILURE

SYMPTOM OF HEART FAILURE
Definition
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.
Causes
Heart failure is almost always a chronic, long-term condition, although it can sometimes develop suddenly. This condition may affect the right side, the left side, or both sides of the heart.
As the heart's pumping action is lost, blood may back up into other areas of the body, including:
• The liver
• The gastrointestinal tract and extremities (right-sided heart failure)
• The lungs (left-sided heart failure)
With heart failure, many organs don't receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which damages them and reduces their ability to function properly. Most areas of the body can be affected when both sides of the heart fail.
The most common causes of heart failure are hypertension (high blood pressure) and coronary artery disease (for example, you have had a heart attack). Other structural or functional causes of heart failure include the following:
• Valvular heart disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Lung disease
• Heart tumor
Heart failure becomes more common with advancing age. You are also at increased risk for developing heart failure if you are overweight, have diabetes, smoke cigarettes, abuse alcohol, or use cocaine.
Symptoms
• Weight gain
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Pronounced neck veins
• Loss of appetite, indigestion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath with activity, or after lying down for a while
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fatigue, weakness, faintness
• Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
• Irregular or rapid pulse
• Decreased alertness or concentration
• Cough
• Decreased urine production
• Need to urinate at night
Infants may sweat during feeding (or other exertion).
Some patients with heart failure have no symptoms. In these people, the symptoms may develop only with these conditions:
• Infections with high fever
• Anemia
• Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
• Hyperthyroidism
• Kidney disease


WEIGHT GAIN
Definition
Unintentional weight gain is an increase in body weight that occurs when a person takes in more calories than the body needs or uses, causing increased fat storage.

When to Contact a Medical Professional Return to top
Contact your health care provider if the following symptoms occur along with the weight gain:
• Constipation
• Excessive weight gain without a known cause
• Hair loss
• Sensitivity to cold
• Swollen feet and shortness of breath
• Uncontrollable hunger accompanied by palpitations, tremor, and sweating
• Vision changes

SWELLING OF FEET
Definition
Abnormal buildup of fluid in the ankles, feet, and legs is called peripheral edema.
Alternative Names
Swelling of the ankles - feet - legs; Ankle swelling; Foot swelling; Leg swelling; Edema - peripheral; Peripheral edema
Causes
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling is common with the following situations:
• Prolonged standing
• Long airplane flights or automobile rides
• Menstrual periods (for some women)
• Pregnancy -- excessive swelling may be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a serious condition sometimes called toxemia, that includes high blood pressure and swelling
• Being overweight
• Increased age
• Injury or trauma to your ankle or foot
Swollen legs may be a sign of heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure. In these conditions, there is too much fluid in the body.
Other conditions that can cause swelling to one or both legs include:
• Blood clot
• Leg infection
• Venous insufficiency (when the veins in your legs are unable to adequately pump blood back to the heart)
• Varicose veins
• Burns (including sunburn)
• Insect bite or sting
• Starvation or malnutrition
• Surgery to your leg or foot
Certain medications may also cause your legs to swell:
• Hormones like estrogen (in birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy) and testosterone
• A group of blood pressure lowering drugs called calcium channel blockers (such as nifedipine, amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, and verapamil)
• Steroids
• Antidepressants, including MAO inhibitors (such as phenelzine and tranylcypromine) and tricyclics (such as nortriptyline, desipramine, and amitriptyline)

LOSS OF APPETITE
Definition
Appetite is the desire to eat. A decreased appetite is when you have a reduced desire to eat. This occurs despite the body's basic caloric (energy) needs.
Alternative Names
Loss of appetite; Decreased appetite
Causes
• Emotional upset, nervousness, loneliness, boredom, tension, anxiety, bereavement, and depression
• Acute and chronic infections
• HIV
• Pregnancy (first trimester)
• Cancer
• Hypothyroidism
• Medications and street drugs
o Chemotherapeutic agents
o Amphetamines
o Sympathomimetics including ephedrine
o Antibiotics
o Cough and cold preparations
o Codeine
o Morphine
o Demerol
o Digitalis

Definition
Nausea is the sensation of having an urge to vomit. Vomiting is forcing the contents of the stomach up through the esophagus and out of the mouth.
Alternative Names
Emesis; Vomiting; Stomach upset; Upset stomach
Causes Return to top
The following are possible causes of vomiting:
• Viral infections
• Medications
• Seasickness or motion sickness
• Migraine headaches
• Morning sickness during pregnancy
• Food poisoning
• Food allergies
• Brain tumors
• Chemotherapy in cancer patients
• Bulimia
• Alcoholism
These are possible causes of vomiting in infants (0 - 6 months):
• Congenital pyloric stenosis, a constriction in the outlet from the stomach (the infant vomits forcefully after each feeding but otherwise appears to be healthy)
• Food allergies or milk intolerance
• Gastroenteritis (infection of the digestive tract that usually causes vomiting with diarrhea)
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• An inborn error of metabolism
• Hole in the bottle nipple may be wrong size, leading to overfeeding
• Infection, often accompanied by fever or runny nose
• Intestinal obstruction, evidenced by recurring attacks of vomiting and crying or screaming as if in great pain
• Accidentally ingesting a drug or poison
Call the doctor immediately or take the child to an emergency care facility if you suspect poisoning or drug ingestion!