Vitals
Your vital signs are VITAL. Your heart rate and heart rhythm can tell you a lot about how your heart is working. A persistently fast heart rate can be a sign that the heart is getting sicker. In heart failure, your blood pressure needs to be just right. High blood pressure can be hard on a failing heart and low blood pressure can make you light-headed and not feel well.
Physical Exam
Your doctor will perform physical exams to check for signs of worsening heart failure. Your doctor can listen to your heart for extra sounds or leaky valves. They will listen to your lungs and feel your liver in your belly as well as your feet and legs to see if you are holding onto too much fluid.