If you have congestive heart failure, do you have hypotension or hypertension?

Likely Hypertension: Untreated hypertension is the most common cause of heart failure. Over the years, the heart gets enlarged and eventually does not have the strength to pump well against the htn. Eventually this results in retention of fluids in the lungs and lower extremities and the patient then because short of breath and unable to walk. The take home message is treat htn!

Either: You can have either one. Hypertension is a common cause of chf. End-stage CHF often results in hypotension. Most patients have normal or high bps until their hearts become so weak that they can't generate the high pressure anymore. Even more commonly, the BP becomes low because of treatment for the CHF since all of the drugs used will also lower bp.