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Vomiting often can throw your electrolytes out of balance. Low levels of potassium, magnesium, and sodium are not uncommon. This is hard on the heart and can cause irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), weakened heart muscle, and heart failure. Bulimia can cause low blood pressure, weak pulse, and anemia. Throwing up can be a violent event. The sheer force of it can even cause blood vessels in the eyes to rupture.
You may experience a persistent cough or wheezing (a whistling sound in the lungs or laboured breathing) due to your heart failure. The wheezing is similar to asthma but has a different cause in heart failure. Sometimes people with heart failure cough up phlegm, a thick, mucous-like substance that may be tinged with blood. This often happens with a lung infection (pneumonia). The coughing or wheezing is due to the fluid accumulation or congestion, in the lungs, which increases the effort of breathing. If you notice a worsening in your cough or wheezing which affects your breathing, this may indicate that your heart failure is getting worse and you should contact your doctor. A dry, persistent cough can also be a side effect of some medicines used in heart failure.