What should you know about overt heart failure?

When the heart cannot handle blood flow efficiently, pressure and fluid can build up in the lungs or tissues. This may cause breathlessness during activity or when lying down, a cough, tiredness, reduced stamina, or swollen ankles. A fast or irregular rhythm, high blood pressure, previous heart damage, and other conditions can contribute.

Symptoms may change gradually, so compare your usual walking ability, sleep position, swelling, and weight trend as advised by your care team. Palpitations or a new cough should be reported rather than dismissed as ageing or poor fitness.

Take prescribed medicines as directed and do not change or stop them without advice. Attend planned reviews, including a Chronic Disease Review when offered. Ask how to monitor fluid symptoms, blood pressure, pulse, and any weight changes relevant to your plan. Keep appointments even when you feel stable because treatment may need adjustment.

Balance activity with rest, follow the fluid or salt guidance given for your condition, and check before taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines or supplements. Manage contributing conditions such as Hypertension and attend promptly to new symptoms.

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness at rest, chest pressure, fainting, blue lips, new confusion, or coughing pink or frothy fluid. Seek prompt clinical advice if swelling, breathlessness, cough, fatigue, or palpitations suddenly worsen or make ordinary activity much harder.

What type of heart failure do I have, and what symptoms should I report? Which medicines need monitoring? How much activity, fluid, and salt suit me? Could an irregular rhythm or blood pressure be affecting my symptoms? When should my next review take place?