Heart failure — the manual, from the day the reservoir overflows

In Between B1 and B2 we called the left atrium a reservoir. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the day the reservoir overflows — pressure backs up until the lungs begin to flood, and the space for breathing shrinks. Heavy material, but this article's purpose is a manual, not fear. CHF is a treatable emergency, and once the crisis passes and the cat comes home, the caregiver's s…