Symptoms and Diagnosis The most common symptoms of heart failure
include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, feeling
tired, and swelling. Swelling usually occurs in the ankles,
feet, legs, and sometimes in the abdomen. Swelling is caused by
fluid buildup in the body. The fluid buildup can lead to weight
gain as well as a cough. The cough can be worse at night and
when lying down. When symptoms first begin, you might feel tired
or short of breath after routine physical activities, such as
climbing stairs. As heart failure progresses, the symptoms get
worse. You may feel tired or short of breath after performing
simple activities, like getting dressed. Diagnosing Heart
Failure There is not one specific test to diagnose heart
failure. Because the symptoms are common for other conditions,
your doctor will determine if you have heart failure by doing a
detailed medical history, an examination, and several tests. The
tests will identify whether you have any diseases or conditions
that can cause heart failu