As the heart's pumping capacity decreases, muscles and other tissues receive less oxygen and nutrition, which are carried in the blood. Without proper fuel, the body cannot perform as much work, which translates into fatigue. F luid accumulation, or edema, may cause swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, and occasionally, the abdomen. Excess fluid retained by the body may result in weight gain, which sometimes occurs fairly quickly. Persistent coughing is another common sign, especially coughing that regularly produces mucus or pink, blood-tinged sputum.
Some people develop raspy breathing or wheezing.
B ecause heart failure usually develops slowly, the symptoms may not appear until the condition has progressed over years. The heart hides the underlying problem by making adjustments that delay, but do not prevent, the eventual loss in pumping capacity. B y making these adjustments, or compensating, the heart can temporarily make up for losses in pumping ability, sometimes for years. However, compensation has its limits. Eventually, the heart cannot offset the lost ability to pump blood, and the signs of heart failure appear.