Do you or your loved one have a persistent cough and you’re wondering what’s causing it? Or have you recently found out from a cardiologist that your cough is caused by heart failure?

The link between heart failure and coughing isn’t always clear until you understand more about how your heart and lungs work together. However, coughing can be an early sign of heart failure. Here’s what you need to know so you can make sure you or your loved one get the treatment necessary to feel better and keep your quality of life high.

The Connection Between Heart Failure and Coughing

When you have heart failure, your heart muscle has difficulty with pumping blood. This causes extra fluid to build up in your body, including in the blood vessels, which move blood from the lungs to the heart. The excess fluid can leak into your lungs, a condition called pulmonary edema. As the fluid collects in your lungs, you might start coughing to try to get rid of it.

What Is Heart Failure Cough Like?

Most of the time, a heart failure cough sounds wet, because of the fluid buildup your body is trying to expel. In fact, when your cough is caused by heart failure, you’ll usually cough up mucus. The mucus can be white, or it may look pink because it’s tinged with blood. It may look or feel frothy, with a lot of bubbles inside the mucus.

Sometimes, though, heart problems can present with a dry cough. It may sound like you're hacking. This cough is more common when someone is lying down and their body can’t expel the mucus in the lungs. Because it’s dry, you usually won’t expel mucus with this kind of cough.

Cough Is Just One of Many Symptoms of Heart Failure

It’s important to note that you may still have heart failure even if you don’t have a cough. Other common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, retaining water (which may cause weight gain), swelling in your legs (edema), and extreme fatigue, all of which can be present without any coughing.

You may even have unexpected signs of heart failure, like dizziness or fatigue. A cough that won’t go away is only one possible sign of heart failure.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you have a cough that won’t go away or any other symptoms of heart failure, it’s important to talk to your doctor right away. If you already have a cardiologist or a cardiology team, talk to them. If you don’t, see your primary health care provider to start testing or to get a referral to a specialist.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment Are Vital

When it comes to heart disease, getting a diagnosis and starting treatment early is important. If your heart failure can be cured by surgery or medication, it’s best to start treatment before your body suffers damage that cannot be reversed. Even if your heart failure can’t be cured, getting treatment early can help you find the right medications, make necessary lifestyle changes, and explore other treatment options that will help slow the progression of the disease.

Once you have a diagnosis and start treatment, your symptoms should improve. This includes a cough. If your cough doesn’t go away, or if it comes back at any point, talk to your doctor again. You may need different medications or a different dosage of medications you’re already taking to further improve your heart health.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, the social network for people with heart disease and their loved ones, more than 61,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with heart disease.

Are you wondering if your cough is connected to heart failure? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.