This shortness of breath may be caused by fluid in the lungs, or by the inability of the heart to pump adequate amounts of blood during physical activity.
One of the telltale signs that your ankles and feet are swollen is when your shoes and socks feel tight.
However, even if you feel too warm, the skin on your hands and feet may feel pale and cool, as these parts of your body are not receiving enough blood.
Poorly functioning valves may cause the chamber to dilate from blood back-up, thinning the myocardium, decreasing pumping ability and increasing the workload. Normally, the ventricles of the heart contract (while the atria are relaxing) allowing for the filling and emptying of each chamber. If the muscle wall of the left ventricle cannot contract properly, some of the blood is left in the ventricles. Blood then backs up into the pulmonary vessels, the pressure within those vessels increases and fluid leaks into the lung tissue, producing congestion and eventually pulmonary edema (swelling) . If not corrected, the back-up of blood will soon lead to failure of the right side of the heart. This condition is called congestive heart failure.
Follow a strict low sodium diet and avoid drinking too much fluid. [14] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source Get plenty of bed rest and gradually re-introduce slower-paced activity. Avoid emotional stress. Take prescription medications to treat CHF, such as diuretics, vasodilators, dobutamine and ACE inhibitors. [15] X Research source
