Heart failure may be symptomless or range from mild to severe. Symptoms may be constant or infrequent and may include:

• Congested lungs – Fluid filled lungs resulting in shortness of breath, dry cough, or wheezing
• Fluid and water retention – Results from reduced blood supply to kidneys, in turn leading to swollen ankles, legs, and abdomen (body swelling), weight gain, increased frequency of urination at night, loss of appetite, and/or nausea
• Reduced blood supply to vital organs – Results in dizziness, tiredness, weakness, and confusion
• Rapid or irregular heartbeats
• Weight gain
• Chest pain
• Fainting in severe cases

Symptoms of heart failure in children may include:

• Poor feeding
• Excessive sweating
• Difficulty breathing

Common tests & procedures

Blood test: Kidney and thyroid functions Cholesterol levels Blood cell count B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, a substance indicative of heart failure

X-ray: Chest X-ray detects enlarged heart and fluid filled lungs.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI of chest detects any damages to the heart muscles, blockages in the heart.

Echocardiogram: Helps in evaluating heart muscles and valves.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): To assess how well the heart pumps blood.

Ejection fraction (EF): To measure the amount of blood released during contraction of the heart.

Stress test: Measures the health of the heart and amount of stress it can sustain.

Cardiac catheterization: To check for coronary artery disease.