Chest Pain
Chest pain or angina may be associated, especially if the underlying cause of the failure is atherosclerotic heart disease.
Right heart failure, left heart failure, or both
• Patients with right heart failure leak fluid into the tissue and organs that deliver blood to the right heart through the vena cava.
• Back pressure in capillary blood vessels cause them to leak water into the space between cells and commonly the fluid can be found in the lowest parts of the body.
• Gravity causes fluid to accumulate in the feet and ankles but as more fluid accumulates, it may creep up to involve all of the lower legs.
• Fluid can also accumulate within the liver causing it to swell (hepatomegaly) and also within the abdominal cavity (ascites).
• Ascites and hepatomegaly may make the patient feel bloated, nauseated, and have abdominal pain with the feeling of distension.
• Depending upon their underlying illness and the clinical situation, patients may have symptoms of right heart failure, left heart failure, or both.