What are common symptoms of congestive heart failure?

Common symptoms of congestive heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema, which are essential indicators of this condition. Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, occurs because the heart's reduced ability to pump blood effectively leads to fluid accumulation in the lungs, making it difficult for patients to breathe comfortably. Fatigue is a result of decreased cardiac output, which means that organs and tissues receive less oxygenated blood, leading to energy depletion. Edema, or swelling, typically occurs in the legs and feet due to fluid retention from the heart's inability to manage blood flow effectively, causing congestion in the vascular system.

The other options present symptoms that are less characteristic of congestive heart failure. While some symptoms from those choices may overlap with other conditions, they do not specifically highlight the hallmark signs of congestive heart failure. For instance, chest pain may indicate a variety of cardiac issues but is not a distinct symptom of congestive heart failure itself. Similarly, nausea and confusion can relate to many other medical conditions and do not pertain directly to the heart's failure to pump effectively. Frequent headaches and dehydration are also not typically associated with congestive heart failure, as they suggest different underlying health issues. Thus, option A accurately reflects the primary