Tracking Symptoms of Heart Failure

If you have heart failure, being aware of even small changes in your body can help you manage your condition. Here are common symptoms of heart failure:

• Fluid retention. You may notice swelling in the lower half of your body, especially the legs, feet, and ankles. Sometimes your shoes may not fit. This can lead to sudden weight gain.

• Weight gain. Weigh yourself every morning after waking and peeing but before eating or drinking. Weigh yourself without clothing or with the same amount of clothing. Tell your healthcare provider if you suddenly gain 2 or more pounds in 1 day, or more than 5 pounds in 1 week. Or report whatever weight gain you were told by your healthcare provider. 

• Belly (abdominal) swelling or stomach pain. You may notice your pants fit tight or that you have to adjust the fit of your belt.

• Shortness of breath or coughing. Your heart can't pump as well as it should, so fluid can back up into your lungs. You may be breathless, which can cause you to wake up at night or cause shortness of breath when lying flat on your back. You may also feel short of breath doing tasks that you had no problems with before. These might be checking the mail or walking up 1 flight of stairs. If you develop a cough, what you cough up may be foamy or frothy. Let your healthcare provider know if this happens. If you have severe shortness of breath, call 911.

• Trouble sleeping.  Let your healthcare provider know right away if you find yourself needing to use more pillows or sleep in a chair rather than a bed to prevent trouble breathing.

• Tiredness (fatigue). Blood flow to the muscles may be reduced. This may make you feel tired during the day. Take time to rest and talk with your healthcare provider.

• Nausea or loss of appetite. Not enough blood in your digestive system or swelling of the organs from fluid retention can make you feel full more quickly than usual or even sick to your stomach. Tell your healthcare provider.

• Disorientation, memory loss, or confusion. Changes in the amount of sodium in your blood can cause confusion. If you or someone else notices this, call 911.

• Increased heart rate or fluttering heartbeats (palpitations). You may feel like your heart is racing or throbbing. To make up for the loss of pumping capacity, your heart beats faster. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice these.

Monitoring symptoms

Watching how your symptoms change helps you keep heart failure under control. Take action as soon as you notice a symptom getting worse or you have a new symptom. This helps prevent a problem from becoming serious. You may even be able to stay out of the hospital.

Use a diary or a calendar to track your symptoms and weight. You can also review the diary with your healthcare provider, or if you need to call and discuss your status over the phone.