What should you know about florid heart failure?

The heart may not move blood forward effectively, allowing pressure and fluid to build up in the lungs or tissues. A person may develop breathlessness, a cough, swollen ankles, exhaustion, or difficulty lying flat. Triggers can include infection, a heart rhythm problem such as atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled hypertension, missed medicines, or excess salt and fluid. The phrase is a description of severity, not a separate type of heart failure.

If a clinician has used this term, follow the treatment plan and contact the care team promptly about worsening breathlessness, swelling, weight change, or reduced activity tolerance. Take prescribed medicines as instructed and do not double a missed dose unless advised. Sit upright while waiting for help, keep a current medicine list available, and follow any personal fluid or salt plan. A chronic disease review can check treatment, rhythm, blood pressure, and kidney function.

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness at rest, inability to speak comfortably, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, chest pressure, or coughing pink frothy fluid. Do not drive yourself. New palpitations with dizziness or breathlessness also need urgent assessment. Even milder but rapidly worsening symptoms should be reported the same day.

Ask what may have triggered the deterioration, which symptoms should prompt emergency help, how to monitor fluid and medicines, and when your next heart-failure review should occur.