Congestive Heart Failure - Veterans Affairs
Patient Education Information Sheet
North Florida/South Georgia
Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS)
Medical Service
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart Failure Risk Factors
• High blood pressure
• Prior heart attack
• History of heart murmurs
• Enlarged heart
• Diabetes
• Family history of enlarged heart
Symptoms of Heart Failure
• Shortness of breath from walking stairs or simple activities (dyspnea)
• Trouble breathing when resting or lying down
• Waking up breathless at night (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea)
• Needing more than two pillows to sleep (orthopnea)
• Tiring easily
• A weight gain or loss of 2 or more pounds in 1 day, or 4 pounds in 1 week
• Confusion or restlessness
• Swelling (edema) of hands, feet, legs, or belly
• General feelings of tiredness
• Frequent coughing
• Coughing that produces mucus or pink, blood-tinged sputum
• Dry, hacking cough when lying flat in bed
Self-Care Tips
• Take all of your medicine exactly as directed
• Weigh yourself every day to see if you are retaining fluid and record
• Follow a low-sodium (salt) diet
• Track your symptoms every day
• Quit smoking cigarettes and cigars if you smoke
• Stay physically active
• Lose weight if you are too heavy.
• Drink alcohol sparingly, if at all
• Learn when to check with your doctor or health care provider
Emergency Symptoms of Heart Failure
Call 911 for emergency help if you have:
• Chest discomfort or pain that lasts more than 15 minutes and that is not lessened with rest or nitroglycerin.
• Severe, lasting shortness of breath
• Fainting or passing out
Urgent Symptoms of Heart Failure
Call you doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:
• Increased shortness of breath or a new shortness of breath while resting
• Trouble sleeping, or waking up suddenly at night, because of breathing problems.
• A need to sleep sitting up or on more pillows than usual
• Fast or unequal heart beats, palpitations, or a "racing heart" that lasts and makes you feel dizzy or lightheaded
• Weight gain or 2 or more pounds in 1 day, or 4 pounds in 1 week.
• A cough that produces frothy or pink sputum.
• A feeling that you might faint or pass out
Tamarah Jungklaus, ARNP-BC
VAMC Heart Failure Team
Cardiology Section
Office: (352) 376-1611 Ext: 5651
Fax: (352) 374-6103
Email: tamarah.jungklaus@
Amy Mullikin, ARNP-BC
VAMC Heart Failure Team
Cardiology Section
Office: (352) 376-1611 Ext: 5651
Fax: (352) 374-6103
Email: amy.mulliken@
Samantha Malloy, ARNP-BC
VAMC Heart Failure Team
Cardiology Section
Office: (352) 376-1611 Ext: 5300
Fax: (352) 374-6103
Email: samantha.malloy2@
For more information:
American Heart Association
Visit your NF/SGVHS Internet site at
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Congestive Heart Failure
JUNE 2013
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