Right Heart Failure – Causes, Signs & Recovery

3.5 min read | Published On: 15-10-2025

Right heart failure, also called right-sided heart failure, happens when the right side of the heart cannot pump blood to the lungs well. This makes blood back up in the body. As a result, fluid builds up in the legs, belly, and other areas. Knowing the causes and signs can help patients get treatment early and live better.

Causes of Right-Sided Heart Failure

Right heart failure mostly happens when the right side of the heart works too hard or gets damaged. Common causes are:

• Left-sided heart failure: When the left side fails, pressure builds in the lungs and strains the right side.
• High blood pressure in the lungs: Also called pulmonary hypertension, this makes the right side work harder.
• Lung diseases: Conditions like COPD or blood clots in lungs can hurt the heart.
• Heart valve problems: When valves on the right side don't work well, blood flow is blocked.
• Birth defects: Some people are born with heart structure problems.
• Heart attacks: Damage to the right side reduces its pumping ability.

Other things like obesity, diabetes, sleep problems, kidney disease, and high blood pressure can add to the risk.

How Right and Left Heart Failure Differ

Feature	Right Heart Failure	Left Heart Failure
Affected side	Right ventricle	Left ventricle
Main symptom	Swelling in legs and belly	Trouble breathing due to lung fluid
Common cause	Lung high blood pressure, left heart failure	Heart attack, high blood pressure
Problems caused	Swelling, liver issues	Lung fluid buildup, breathing difficulty

Sometimes, both sides fail together. This is called biventricular failure.

Signs and Symptoms of Right Heart Failure

Look for these signs early:

• Swollen legs, ankles, or feet
• Belly bloating from fluid buildup
• Quick weight gain
• Feeling tired or weak
• Shortness of breath when lying down
• Enlarged liver or spleen
• Poor appetite or nausea
• Needing to urinate at night a lot
• Bulging neck veins

Later, some people may feel dizzy or faint and have irregular heartbeats.

Treatment for Right Heart Failure

1. Medicines

• Diuretics to help remove extra fluid
• Drugs to lower blood pressure and help the heart work better
• Beta-blockers to slow the heart and reduce strain
• Medicines to lower lung pressure
• Digitalis to help the heart pump stronger (in some cases)

2. Home Care and Lifestyle

• Eat less salt to reduce fluid buildup
• Weigh yourself daily to notice fluid changes early
• Exercise gently as advised by a doctor
• Eat healthy, avoid alcohol and smoking
• Elevate feet when resting to ease swelling

3. Advanced Treatments

• Fix or replace faulty heart valves
• Use pacemakers or defibrillators for irregular heartbeats
• Surgery for birth defects or severe lung high blood pressure
• Heart or lung transplant in severe cases

4. Regular Check-ups

• Heart scans (echocardiograms) to watch heart function
• Blood tests to check kidney and electrolyte levels
• Monitor swelling and liver health

Complications if Untreated

If not treated, right heart failure can cause:

• Severe swelling and pain
• Liver damage and problems
• Belly fluid buildup causing discomfort
• Kidney damage from poor blood flow
• Dangerous irregular heartbeats
• Less ability to exercise and lower quality of life

Recovery and Outlook

Early treatment, following doctor's advice, and managing risks help improve health. Patients can:

• Reduce swelling and move better
• Breathe easier and have more energy
• Slow disease progress
• Live better day-to-day lives

Ongoing care is important to avoid worsening.

Preventing Right Heart Failure

To reduce risk:

• Control blood pressure, diabetes, and heart issues
• Treat lung diseases early
• Maintain healthy weight and stay active
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol
• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains