What is congestive heart failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF), or heart failure, is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's other organs. The heart keeps working but not as efficiently as it should.

How do members experience congestive heart failure?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with congestive heart failure*

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Mobility limited by distance
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Shortness of breath with exertion
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Fluticasone-Salmeterol Physical Exercise Prednisolone
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Methylphenidate Motorized scooter/chair Wheelchair (manual)
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Deep breathing and relaxation Listen to Music
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Tramadol Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) Gabapentin

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for congestive heart failure*

Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment

(Coreg)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
316
Tried for
congestive heart failure (6)
Treatment

(Lasix)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
447
Tried for
congestive heart failure (6)
Treatment

(Zestril)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
341
Tried for
congestive heart failure (4)
Treatment

(Bumex)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
50
Tried for
congestive heart failure (1)
Treatment
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
51
Tried for
congestive heart failure (1)

*Data from patients with congestive heart failure, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with congestive heart failure*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Coreg)
Perceived effectiveness
for congestive heart failure (1 evaluation)
Side effects
dizzy spells
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
congestive heart failure (6)
Treatment

(Lasix)
Perceived effectiveness
for congestive heart failure (1 evaluation)
Side effects
dehydration
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
congestive heart failure (6)
Treatment

(Zestril)
Perceived effectiveness
for congestive heart failure (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
congestive heart failure (4)
Treatment

(Bumex)
Perceived effectiveness
for congestive heart failure (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
congestive heart failure (1)
Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
congestive heart failure (1)

*Data from patients with congestive heart failure, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has congestive heart failure on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 14
30s 98
40s 230
50s 471
60s 581
70+ 597

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 597
Female 1,361