what happens if you have fluid around the heart?
149116
This condition is called pericardial effusion. Fluid around the heart puts a strain on this organ's ability to pump blood efficiently. This condition can have serious complications, including death, if it isn't treated.
622336
When your heart doesn't pump enough blood to meet your needs, blood often backs up and causes fluid to build up in your lungs (congest) and in your legs, causing your legs to swell and turn blue from lack of oxygenated blood flow (cyanosis). This fluid in your lungs can make you short of breath.
1272224
These deposits (plaques) can reduce blood flow through your arteries, which can cause complications, such as: Chest pain. If the arteries that supply your heart with blood (coronary arteries) are affected, you might have chest pain (angina) and other symptoms of coronary artery disease. Heart attack.
661906
If the heart valve leak is severe, it may impair the forward flow of blood. This can cause symptoms of congestive heart failure, which include: Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when lying flat. Leg swelling or fluid retention elsewhere in the body.
88669
Leg swelling isn't always a sign of a heart or circulation problem. You can have swelling due to fluid buildup simply from being overweight, being inactive, sitting or standing for a long time, or wearing tight stockings or jeans. Factors related to fluid buildup include: Acute kidney failure.
885910
The symptoms of pleural effusion can range from none to shortness of breath to coughing, among others. The greater the build-up of fluid, the more likely symptoms will be noticeable. In addition to excess fluid, the tissue around the lung may become inflamed, which can cause chest pain.
565580
Pericardiocentesis, also called a pericardial tap, is a procedure in which a needle and catheter remove fluid from the pericardium, the sac around your heart. The fluid is tested for signs of infection, inflammation, and the presence of blood and cancer.
1354544
This may cause fluid to build up in the abdomen (ascites), the chest cavity, liver, and the limbs. Biventricular failure can arise when both the right and left ventricles are not working properly, such as in dogs with heart muscle failure resulting from dilated cardiomyopathy or poisoning.
1137211
It's often caused by plaque buildup in the arteries that carry blood to your heart. Pericarditis. Inflammation in the sac surrounding your heart is called pericarditis. It commonly causes pain that worsens when you take a breath or lie down.
164470
Excess body mass can decrease blood circulation, causing fluid to build up in the feet, legs, and ankles. Standing or sitting for long periods. When the muscles are inactive, they can't pump body fluids back up toward the heart. The retention of water and blood can cause swelling in the legs.
1338249
With mitral regurgitation, the valve does not seal completely and blood leaks back into the left atrium. This reverse flow forces the heart to work harder to circulate the blood and can result in shortness of breath, fainting, low blood pressure, fatigue, loss of appetite, and other symptoms.
1068530
When this muscle becomes inflamed, its ability to pump blood becomes less effective. This causes problems like an abnormal heartbeat, chest pain, or trouble breathing. In extreme cases, it can cause blood clots leading to a heart attack or stroke, damage to the heart with heart failure, or death.
157896
If you're dehydrated, even slightly, your heart has to work harder to pump blood, which can increase your heart rate and cause an irregular heartbeat or palpitations. Dehydration thickens your blood and makes blood vessel walls constrict which can cause hypertension, or high blood pressure, and strain your heart.
1164532
When it could be serious At the same time, you may have pressure, squeezing, heaviness or tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, nausea and sweating. If you have these, [if in the UK] call 999 immediately." Some people's description of a heart attack is that it was "like an elephant sitting on my chest".
201444
Edema happens when your small blood vessels leak fluid into nearby tissues. That extra fluid builds up, which makes the tissue swell. It can happen almost anywhere in the body.
119893
Trouble breathing. If this happens, it could mean that the clot has moved from your arm or leg to your lungs. You may also get a bad cough, and might even cough up blood. You may get pain in your chest or feel dizzy.
647599
Your heart has a protective fluid-filled sac around it called the pericardium. In pericarditis, the pericardium gets inflamed, and blood or fluid can leak into it. It's difficult to confirm the exact cause of pericarditis, but it's usually a viral infection.