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Congestive heart failure : Symptoms, causes and risk factors

Congestive heart failure : Symptoms, causes and risk factors

Posted By Suborna Fermi Posted on Jul 16, 2026

Introduction

Congestive heart failure is a dangerous condition in which the heart can not pump blood enough to meet the body’s requirements. As a result of that, blood and fluid start to build up in other different parts of the body including the lungs. The condition will keep getting worse with time and your heart muscles will not be able to pump sufficient blood in your organs, which will take you a step ahead towards a heart failure. This condition requires strict medical observation and proper treatments that can only slow down the progress of heart failure.

What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?

Some of the major symptoms of congestive heart failure includes

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weight gain
  • Heart palpitations
  • Fatigue, even when you are active
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and abdomen
  • Dry cough
  • Upset stomach
  • Loss of appetite
  • Hard or bloated stomach

What are the primary causes of congestive heart failure?

Some of the common causes of congestive heart failure include

  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Use of tobacco and recreational drugs
  • Arrhythmia
  • Hypertension
  • Kidney disease
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Use of alcohol
  • Diabetes
  • BMI (Body Mass Index) higher than 30

What are the risk factors of congestive heart failure?

Some common risk factors for congestive heart failure include

  • Age more than 65
  • Use of tobacco products, alcohol or recreational drugs
  • Having coronary artery disease
  • Having hypertension
  • Having meals rich in salt and fat
  • Having a family history of congestive heart failure
  • Having coronary artery disease
  • Living a sedentary lifestyle

The bottom line

Congestive heart failure comes with a wide variety of health complications. It may cause irregular heartbeat, sudden cardiac arrest, kidney and liver damage, pulmonary hypertension and even heart valve problems. Therefore, it is recommended to get in touch with medical experts immediately soon after the primary signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure start getting visible in your body. Fortunately, now there are so many advanced cardiac tests available that can detect underlying heart issues with complete accuracy. You may consider consulting a genuine and reliable pathology lab to gain more information in this regard.