The overall effect on the body due to the gain in weight, loss in appetite and decrease in breathing capacity is the reduction in the ability to work. The extent to which the capacity reduces varies from mild to severe. In mild cases, only severe exercise and exertion results in unusual tiredness. In severe cases, the patient is unable to carry on with his/her daily duties.

The usual cause of weight gain is the accumulation of fats. In the case of congestive heart failure, there is retention and accumulation of fluids. There is no way in which these fluids can be discharged. As a result of this, a weight gain is seen in all patients.

As stated earlier, retention of fluid is the main effect of congestive heart failure. This retention plays havoc in different parts of the body. It accumulates in the abdominal regions causing swellings. The pressure caused by this swelling results in abdominal pain. The excess fluid that gets emptied into the digestive system makes the patient want to throw up. Thus, a kind of nausea sets in and vomiting also occurs. The pain is caused due to inflammation.

When retention of fluids happens in joints and limbs, it also increases in the urinary bladder. This happens in two ways. Firstly, there is an increase in the urine volume. Secondly, there is also an increase in the number of times that one feels the urge to urinate.

Cough, and a persistent one at that, is a symptom of congestive heart disease. It works this way. The lungs get blocked due to fluids. Coughing is a major manner in which the body tries to clear the air passages and the bronchial tubes. Thus, there will be a sudden increase in coughing. Most commonly, it will be a wet cough that that is frothy and tinged with blood. However, it could also be a dry and irritating cough that does not produce any mucous. It is also ironical that cough is a symptom of the medication prescribed for congestive heart failure too!

The difficulties in breathing lead to many secondary problems. And one of the most important symptoms is the inability to sleep. The patient will be forced to sleep in an upright position only. This lack of sleep causes fatigue. Thus, the symptoms are all built in a vicious cycle.

The accumulation of fluid can take place in the lungs also. Therefore, this leads to difficulties in breathing which in turn cause shortness of breath. This usually happens when one is exercising. However, it can also happen when one is lying down flat. There have been many recorded cases where patients wake up in the middle of the night gasping for breath.

Edema occurs due to a condition known as right-sided heart failure. The ankles, legs and abdomen experience swelling due to accumulation of fluid. This happens because the right-sided chamber of the heart fails to pump blood from the veins into the lungs. As a result, the blood accumulates in the gravity dependent limbs like the legs and knees. The most common cause for the failure of the left heart is the failure of the right heart caused by congestive heart disease. Since right-sided heart failure can also be caused by severe lung disease or muscle diseases in the cardiac region, it is important to get a correct diagnosis.

One of the earliest symptoms of congestive heart disease is fatigue. The patient may appear lethargic but the underlying tiredness is what makes him/her look that way. Fatigue can be the symptom of a hundred other problems but it is also caused due to congestive heart failure. Many a times, the patient does not realize the gradual decrease in stamina and ability to work. Thus, while patients get tired, they sub-consciously reduce their activities to cope up.