If you have heart failure, your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. To compensate, your body retains water and salt, which increases the amount of blood in circulation. The heart beats faster, and your heart muscle gets bigger, causing your heart to wear out. The extra fluid buildup in your body, called congestion, and the overworked heart lead to congestive heart failure. Common symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, and swelling due to build up of fluids.