Other
Cardiorespiratory Conditions Other
Medical Conditions CHF is usually caused by a heart attack or coronary artery disease (disease of the arteries of the heart). These diseases make it more difficult for the heart to pump blood. Because the heart is not pumping as well as it should, an increased amount of fluid and blood stays in your arms and legs and does not get pumped back to the heart. This causes "edema", a swelling or puffiness in the limbs.
The heart pumps blood in and out of the lungs. If it is not pumping well, fluid
can sit in the lungs causing what is called pulmonary edema. This means there
is swelling/puffiness in the lungs. Pulmonary edema makes it very difficult
to breathe and can cause lung infections such as pneumonia.
If you have CHF, you are at risk of developing pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema
can also be caused by a lung injury such as a wound to the lungs or severe pneumonia.
These injuries cause the lungs to swell, just like any injury can cause swelling.