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There are two types of heart failure, based on which side of the heart is most affected. Each type is associated with a different type of edema:
- Left–sided heart failure. Occurs when the left ventricle cannot adequately pump oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As a result, the oxygen-rich blood that normally travels
 through the pulmonary veins from the lungs to the heart begins to get backed up, leading to the buildup of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema). Additional symptoms of left-sided heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue and coughing, especially at night and/or while lying down.
- Right-sided heart failure. Takes place when the right ventricle is not pumping adequately. As a result, the oxygen-poor blood that normally travels through the veins from the rest of the body to the heart begins to get backed up, causing fluid buildup in the veins and swelling (edema) in the legs and ankles. Right-sided heart failure usually occurs as a direct result of left-sided heart failure. It can also be caused by severe lung disease (e.g., pulmonary hypertension) in which the right side of the heart cannot generate enough force to pump blood through a diseased pair of lungs (cor pulmonale).
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