devices in selected patients
* Procedures or surgery when necessary
The specific treatment plan should always be individualized by a healthcare team.
## The Bottom Line
Heart failure may begin with symptoms that seem surprisingly ordinary.
**Shortness of breath, difficulty lying flat, swelling in the legs, unexplained fatigue, persistent coughing, sudden fluid-related weight gain, palpitations, appetite changes, and confusion** can all occur as the heart becomes less able to meet the body’s needs.
None of these symptoms alone proves that someone has heart failure. Many other conditions can cause similar problems.
But
