Which of the following are significant signs of right sided congestive heart failure?
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Heart Failure Warning Signs and Symptoms Show
By themselves, any one sign of heart failure may not be cause for alarm. But if you have more than one of these symptoms, even if you haven't been diagnosed with any heart problems, report them to a healthcare professional and ask for an evaluation of your heart. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure which requires seeking timely medical attention, although sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably. View an animation of heart failure. This table lists the most common signs and symptoms, explains why they occur and describes how to recognize them.
If you have been diagnosed with heart failure, it's important for you to manage and keep track of symptoms and report any sudden changes to your healthcare team. Download our Self-Check Plan for help with tracking your heart failure symptoms: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. Heart failure is a general term for the weakening of the heart muscle that leaves it unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. There are several types of heart failure, each with its own cause and complications. While treatment options vary, they usually involve a comprehensive approach to maintaining the health of your entire heart and circulatory system. The outlook for someone with right-sided heart failure depends on the severity of the disease, as well as how early treatment begins. While it’s sometimes a life-threatening condition, it can be managed with a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery. The term heart failure sounds like the heart has stopped pumping, similar to how the phrase “engine failure” means an engine no longer produces any power. Heart failure actually means that the heart muscle has grown weaker and can no longer provide sufficient blood flow to all parts of the body. The heart still pumps, just not as efficiently and effectively as it once did. Right-sided heart failure involves the part of the heart responsible for pumping blood to the lungs, where it receives oxygen. The blood then travels throughout the body to deliver oxygen to your organs, muscles, and other tissues. Due to certain conditions, such as left-sided heart failure, the right ventricle may struggle to pump blood effectively to the lungs, weakening it over time. As a result, the body doesn’t get all the oxygenated blood it needs to function, and complications affecting various other organs can develop. What is left-sided heart failure?Left-sided heart failure is a more common condition than right-sided heart failure. It happens when the left ventricle has to pump harder than usual to deliver enough blood to keep the body healthy. There are two types of left-sided heart failure:
Fluid retention causing swelling in the lower limbs and sometimes the abdomen is a common and obvious symptom of right-sided heart failure. Still, there are several other symptoms that may develop:
Left-sided heart failure symptomsLeft-sided heart failure symptoms may look slightly different. Here are some symptoms of left-sided heart failure:
Several factors can weaken the heart and trigger heart failure. Conditions that damage your heart, such as a heart attack, or make your heart work harder, such as valve disease, can have the same result. Right-sided heart failure can also occur due to lung disease or pulmonary hypertension. Right-sided heart failure is most commonly brought on by left-sided heart failure. When the left side of your heart weakens, blood can build up within the chambers. This increases the pressure within the blood vessels carrying blood to the lungs — a condition known as pulmonary hypertension. To compensate, the right side of the heart must work harder. Eventually, the right side weakens from the extra effort, and you develop right-sided heart failure. Right-sided heart failure can also result from leaky or damaged right-sided valves, such as a leaky tricuspid valve (tricuspid regurgitation). Specific risk factors for right-sided heart failure include:
The proper treatment for right-sided heart failure depends on the underlying condition causing it. Treating right-sided heart failure usually involves using one or more medications, lifestyle measures, and possibly implanted devices that support the heart’s ability to pump. Treating left-sided heart failure is also important. MedicationsThe following types of medications are among those commonly prescribed to treat right-sided heart failure:
LifestyleTo help your heart work efficiently, the following lifestyle measures are important:
DevicesFor more severe cases of right-sided heart failure, you may need an implanted device to support healthy heart function. A mechanical heart pump can take the form of a ventricular assist device or a total artificial heart to compensate for the heart’s loss of pumping strength. In some cases, surgery may be needed to correct a congenital heart defect that caused the heart failure or repair the heart valve that is dysfunctional. Or, in the most serious cases, a heart transplant may be necessary if other treatment options have been unsuccessful. While there are several risk factors that can lead to heart failure, there are still steps you can take to potentially help prevent it. Some things you can do include:
Right-sided heart failure is a lifelong condition, and there is currently no cure. However, many people manage symptoms and maintain a decent quality of life. The key is to work closely with your doctor and follow your medication regimen precisely as prescribed. It’s also critical to report any new symptoms and manage any other medical conditions that could contribute to or worsen because of heart failure. These may include:
There are advances in mechanical support devices, suggesting that treatment options will continue to save and extend lives. How common is right-sided heart failure?Right-sided heart failure accounts for 2.2 percent of all heart failure reports. Heart failure, in general, affects 6.2 million adults in the United States. What is the right-sided heart failure life expectancy?Life expectancy with right-sided heart failure depends on the severity of the disease, your age, and your lifestyle choices. However, the prognosis for right-sided heart failure is typically poor. Can left sided heart failure cause right-sided heart failure?Yes, and the two are often linked. Left-sided heart failure results in the left ventricle having to work harder to pump blood effectively to the body — which affects the right ventricle’s ability to pump enough blood into the lungs. Most cases of right-sided heart failure are due to complications from left-sided heart failure. Heart failure is a widespread disease, especially as a person ages. However, specific steps and lifestyle changes may help prevent heart failure from occurring or minimize the symptoms if it does happen, such as not smoking, managing high blood pressure, and exercising regularly. Working closely with your doctor and following your medication regimen as prescribed can help extend your life expectancy with right-sided heart failure. What are significant signs of rightSymptoms. Fainting spells during activity.. Chest discomfort, usually in the front of the chest.. Chest pain.. Swelling of the feet or ankles.. Symptoms of lung disorders, such as wheezing or coughing or phlegm production.. Bluish lips and fingers (cyanosis). Which of the following is the most common cause of rightThe most common cause of right-sided heart failure is actually left-sided heart failure. But other conditions, such as certain lung diseases, can cause the right ventricle to fail even when there is no problem with your left ventricle.
What are the signs and symptoms difference between right and leftIn left-sided heart failure, the left side of the heart is weakened and results in reduced ability for the heart to pump blood into the body. In right-sided heart failure, the right side of the heart is weakened and results in fluid in your veins, causing swelling in the legs, ankles, and liver.
What is the diagnosis for rightTests used to diagnose right-sided heart failure include: Electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram studies, which can reveal elevated pulmonary artery pressure and may also reveal valvular heart disease or disease affecting the cardiac muscle2 Pulmonary function testing to confirm the presence and severity of COPD.
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