Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Urinating more frequently at night
• Pronounced neck veins
• Palpitations (sensation of feeling the heart beat)
• Irregular fast heartbeat
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Fainting

A variety of different situations may trigger an episode of heart failure, including:

• Increased intake of fluids or salt
• Fever
• Infections
• Anemia
• Blockage in the coronary arteries
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
• Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
• Kidney disease

Many people admitted to the hospital with heart failure do not follow a recommended low-salt diet or take heart failure medicines as prescribed.

Signs and tests:

A physical examination may reveal:

• Abnormal heart sounds, such as a murmur
• Abnormal lung sounds
• Ankle swelling
• Distended neck veins
• Enlarged liver
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Weight gain

Common tests may include:

• Chest x-ray
• ECG
• Echocardiogram

The following lab tests may be performed:

• Blood chemistry
• B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
• Complete blood count
• Liver function tests
• Thyroid function tests
• Urinalysis

Cardiac catheterization may also be done.