Facts about CHF symptoms

• Facts about symptoms that need to be recognised pt1:

  1. The cardiovascular system (including the pulmonary and systemic circulations) are a closed loop system or continuum. This means a disturbance at one point in the system will have repercussions elsewhere
  2. heart failure really means ventricular failure
  3. Presenting symptoms depend on the severity or degree of CHF
  4. Presenting symptoms depend on whether the left or right side of the heart is failing
  5. The 2 sides of the heart are intimately structurally and functionally interconnected
• Facts about symptoms that need to be recognised pt2:

  1. The right ventricle and pulmonary vascular system and systemic venous system are intimately structurally and functionally interconnected
  2. Right ventricular failure will produce symptoms in the systems it is associated with
  3. The left ventricle and pulmonary vascular system and the systemic vascular system are intimately structurally and functionally interconnected
  4. Left ventricular failure will produce symptoms in the systems it is associated with.
  5. Failure of any side of the heart over time will precipitate failure on the other side too