Can you describe congestive heart failure?

Many symptoms: Shortness of breath, fatigue, fluid retention, edema, decreased oxygenation and ascites, pleural effusion. It is a progressive disease and, left untreated, 50% of patients will die in 5 years - in general a worse prognosis than cancer.

Stiffness - Weakness: With increased stiffness &/or weakness of heart pumping (muscle &/or valve problems), brain reflexes ↑ thirst/water intake & ↓ water output from kidneys; thus body water increases, i.e. The congestion (edema). If heart function not too sick, the ↑ water/blood volume improves pump function; but no limit to the reflex & the increased water (edema) can fill the lungs (can't breath) & legs/body swells.