What should you know about coronary heart failure?

Heart failure can cause breathlessness, tiredness, cough, palpitations and swollen ankles. Fluid may collect in the lungs or legs, and symptoms can be more noticeable when lying flat or after activity. Coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, valve problems and abnormal rhythms such as atrial fibrillation can contribute, but the cause differs between people. It is a long-term condition that can often be monitored and treated.

Take prescribed medicines consistently and do not stop them because you feel better without discussing the change. Track changes in breathlessness, weight, ankle swelling and exercise tolerance, and report a clear deterioration. Keep appointments for blood tests, heart checks and medication review. Ask about salt, fluid, alcohol, activity and vaccinations in the context of your own treatment plan; advice may change with kidney function and other conditions.

Contact your clinician promptly if swelling increases, you need more pillows to sleep, your cough worsens, or you become breathless with less activity than usual. Seek emergency help for severe breathlessness at rest, fainting, new chest pressure, or confusion. Rapid or irregular pounding of the heart with dizziness or breathlessness also needs urgent assessment.

Ask what caused your heart failure, how to monitor fluid retention, which symptoms require same-day advice, and how your medicines affect blood pressure, kidneys and heart rhythm.