Q. What are the symptoms of congestive cardiac failure?
Congestive cardiac failure is a progressive form of cardiomyopathy. The most classical symptom is fluid imbalance due to inadequate cardiac output which results in cardiac/ pulmonary oedema which may latter involve other organs in the abdomen.
Since the haemodynamic changes may or may not develop at the same time, the clinical symptoms can vary a great deal from patient to patient. The most common symptoms seen are:
• Fatigue, faintness and weakness
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Shortness of breath even after lying down, loss of appetite, indigestion, nausea and vomiting
• Congestion
• Inadequate cardiac output
• Altered fluid balance (oedema)
• Cardiac cachexia (severe malnutrition)
• Decreased urine production