Heart Failure Symptom Checker

This symptom checker includes the main symptoms of heart failure and is designed to help you evaluate these potential symptoms. It can serve as a basis for discussion with your doctor.

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The symptom checker is not intended to be used to diagnose heart failure or to replace medical advice. The data you enter will not be stored or used by the Irish Heart Foundation or any third parties. If you have any requests concerning your personal information or any queries with regard to our processing, please contact msweeney@irishheart.ie or see https://irishheart.ie/privacy-policy.

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Shortness of Breath

Heart failure can cause the fluid in your body to gather in your lungs which may cause you to feel short of breath during everyday activities such as walking or climbing stairs.


Please rate your experience of this symptom.

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Shortness of breath while lying down

Lying flat may also make you feel short of breath so that you need to sleep sitting up or with multiple pillows.


Please rate your experience of this symptom.

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Fatigue

Heart failure means less oxygen-rich blood is circulating in the body. Because your muscles and tissues need oxygen for energy, this means people with heart failure can feel tired very easily.


Please rate your experience of this symptom.

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Swelling in ankles / legs / abdomen

Clothes or shoes might feel tighter as fluid in the body builds up in the legs, ankles or abdomen causing them to swell up.


Please rate your experience of this symptom.

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Rapid Heartbeat

The heart sometimes starts to speed up to compensate for its reduced ability to pump blood around the body.


Please rate your experience of this symptom.

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Sudden Weight increase

Worsening heart failure may cause an increase in weight of more than two kilograms (about six pounds) in one week because fluid builds up in your body.


Have you noticed a weight increase of more than 2kg (about 6lbs) in the past week?

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Loss of appetite

A build-up of fluid around the gut can affect digestion and might cause a loss of appetite, or make you feel sick when eating.


Have you experienced loss of appetite in the past two weeks?

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Changes in Mood

Heart Failure can cause changes in your mood, creating a sense of uncertainty, a lack of confidence and potential mood swings.


Have you experienced mood swings recently?

Could you tell your doctor more?

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Reduced ability to exercise

Heart Failure can limit your lifestyle forcing you to change hobbies, activities and pastimes.


Have you been unable to do activities you used to be able to do?

Could you tell your doctor more?

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The next step for you is to download your answers and talk to your doctor about them.

I The symptom checker is not intended to be used to diagnose heart failure or to replace medical advice.
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You can also download the PDF version here. Print it and complete it with the help of your health care professional or carer.