Congestive Heart Failure

What Happens in Congestive Heart Failure?
When the heart doesn't pump as efficiently as it should, the blood flow slows down and less blood is pumped. Then blood returning to the heart backs up in the veins. This forces fluid from the blood vessels into tissues of the feet and legs. The swelling that follows is called edema of the feet, ankles and legs.

Sometimes the edema involves the wall of the abdomen and liver, too. (Not all edema results from congestive heart failure—only a doctor is qualified to make this diagnosis.)

The heart's left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, and then pumps it to the rest of the body. When the heart's left side isn't pumping as well as it should be, blood backs up in the vessels of the lungs.

Sometimes fluid is forced out of the lung vessels into the breathing spaces themselves. When this happens it's called pulmonary edema; shortness of breath and a lack of stamina often follow. Common causes of congestive heart failure (CHF) include long-standing high blood pressure, previous heart attacks and abnormalities of the heart valves.