What is the difference between right&left sided heart failure?
Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. An estimated five million Americans have heart failure.ClassificationHeart failure can be classified as right sided or left sided, depending on the location. Right and left sided heart failure also have different signs and symptoms. Left sided failure usually develops first and can progress to right sided failure.Left Sided Heart FailureLeft sided heart failure occurs when the heart can’t either contract or relax normally. The heart cannot exert enough force to push enough blood into circulation, or is too stiff to relax and allow for filling with blood.Right Sided FailureRight sided failure occurs when the left side fails and causes fluid pressure to come back through the lungs to the right side of the heart. The right side can’t pump effectively, and this usually causes swelling in the ankles and legs.Signs and Symptoms of Heart FailureA person often has shortness of
