• You find yourself breathless, a condition exacerbating or hindering your sleep.
• You doze off in bed only to awaken at night, gasping for air.
• You sleep more comfortably in a semi-upright position in a chair or recliner than lying flat.
• Your breathlessness worsens with mild physical activity.
• You suffer from inexplicable fatigue that no amount of rest alleviates.
• You have a persistent, dry cough that defies resolution.
• You notice swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs that shows no signs of abating.

Other, subtler symptoms of heart failure merit consultation with your healthcare provider, especially if correlated with the aforementioned signs.

• Abdominal distension or discomfort
• Persistent pallor of the skin
• Loss of appetite

Aside from childbirth, congestive heart failure stands as the predominant cause of hospital admissions in the United States, particularly for individuals above 65 years of age. This underscores the reality that individuals with heart failure may necessitate hospitalization, either at the onset of the condition or periodically due to its progression. Always treat chest pain with utmost seriousness. While heart failure itself does not induce pain, several significant conditions associated with congestive heart failure do.

If these symptoms manifest abruptly or intensify rapidly, immediate medical intervention is imperative.

• Breathlessness
• Intense, unrelieved chest pain
• Leg swelling escalating to pain, even in one leg, particularly if accompanied by signs of infection (redness, warmth to the touch, fever)
• Fainting spells

Self-Care at Home

• Congestive heart failure constitutes a grave medical condition demanding professional medical assistance.
• Once diagnosed and under the supervision of a qualified medical expert, there are several steps you can and should take at home to enhance your comfort and mitigate the risk of worsening your condition.
• Indeed, the more proactive you are in managing your heart failure, the greater the likelihood of positive outcomes.
• Implementing the lifestyle modifications outlined here can yield tangible benefits. Not only will you experience improved well-being, but you'll also heighten your chances of a lengthier, healthier life.

Address swelling using the following methods:

• Elevate your feet and legs if they appear swollen.
• Adopt a low-sodium diet.
• Weigh yourself every morning before breakfast and document it in a journal that you can share with your healthcare provider.

Avoid the following:

• Non-compliance with prescribed medications
• Smoking in any form
• Excessive alcohol consumption (up to one drink per day is generally acceptable, unless predisposed to excessive intake/alcoholism)
• Maintain regular physical activity or participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program (which can monitor changes in exercise capacity)
• Excessive emotional stress and/or depression (Moderate-to-severe mental depression has been shown to double mortality risk.)
• High-altitude environments (Breathing becomes more arduous due to lower oxygen levels; pressurized cabin air travel is generally safe.)
• Utilization of herbal or other complementary remedies without prior consultation with a physician to assess their safety

Be Informed:

• Individuals with diabetes must diligently monitor their blood sugar levels daily. Familiarize yourself with the HbA1C level, aiming for a reading below 7.0, preferably under 6.5.
• People with hypertension should regularly measure their blood pressure, ensuring it remains below 140 mm Hg for everyone and below 130 mm Hg if the individual has diabetes.
• Individuals with elevated lipid levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) can resort to medications to reduce LDL cholesterol to below 100 and triglycerides to below 150.