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Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a progressive clinical syndrome in which the heart’s pumping capacity declines, failing to meet the body’s metabolic demands. As cardiac output falls, blood backs up in the venous system, causing fluid filtration into tissues and organs; this “congestion” primarily affects the lungs, liver, and peripheral tissues. Common triggers include coronary artery disease, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, and chronic arrhythmias.

Typical symptoms include exertional and later resting dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and weight gain due to fluid retention. Patients may also notice bilateral leg and ankle edema, abdominal distension, early satiety, and jugular venous distension. If left untreated, CHF can progress to acute decompensation with pulmonary edema, hypoxia, and hemodynamic instability.

Management combines lifestyle modification, pharmacotherapy, and, in selected cases, device or surgical therapy. Standard drugs include diuretics, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, beta blockers, MRAs, and SGLT2 inhibitors, which improve symptoms, slow remodeling, and reduce hospitalization and mortality. Sodium-restricted diets, fluid monitoring, weight tracking, and regular follow-up are essential components of long-term care. Early diagnosis and comprehensive control of underlying causes significantly enhance quality of life and prognosis in CHF.