What is a common chief complaint of a patient suffering from CHF?

In patients suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF), a common chief complaint is shortness of breath, particularly when lying flat, a condition known as orthopnea. This occurs because when a person lies down, blood can pool in the lungs due to gravity, increasing pulmonary congestion and leading to difficulty breathing. Patients may find they can breathe more easily when sitting or propped up, as this position helps to reduce the amount of blood flow returning to the heart and decreases the workload on an already compromised heart.

The other options, while they can be associated with various medical conditions, do not distinctly characterize CHF. Severe abdominal pain can suggest gastrointestinal issues or other systemic problems. Fever and chills typically indicate an infectious process rather than a cardiac issue. Persistent coughing and wheezing may occur in CHF due to fluid in the lungs, but they are not as specific and prevalent as shortness of breath, particularly orthopnea, as a primary symptom experienced by these patients.