Acute heart failure quiz

Heart failure or congestive heart failure, is a condition where your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body's oxygen demands. Acute heart failure occurs when there is sudden development of new or worsening symptoms of heart failure. Causes include genetics or lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, etc.

• Feeling breathless

• History of heart failure

• Waking up at night with difficulty in breathing

• Sensation of pressure in the chest

• Difficulty breathing when lying down, which improves when sitting up

• Noisy breathing; e.g. wheezing, rattling

• Swollen legs / fluid retention in the legs

• Chest discomfort with exercise

Treatment involves supporting breathing, controlling blood pressure and removing excess fluid from the body if necessary. There is no cure, but long-term treatment with medications and rehabilitation can improve the heart's function.