Signs & Symptoms of Right-Sided Heart Failure
- Right-sided heart failure is when the right ventricle in the heart loses its power to pump blood and the blood backs up into the veins.
- Symptoms of right-sided failure are shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, weakness, swelling in the feet and ankles, and increased urinating at night.
- Some things that trigger right-sided heart failure are stress, increased fluid intake, increased salt intake, left-sided heart failure, fevers and infections.
- Some causes of right-sided failure are left-sided failure, lung disease such as emphysema and bronchitis, clots in the pulmonary arteries, valve disease, and congenital heart disease.
- The best treatment for right-sided failure is to fix left-sided failure. Reducing the amount of fluids and salt intake also can help prevent symptoms. In addition, a doctor can prescribe fluid pills and medicines to help decrease the heart's workload.
