Rachael
Right sided heart failure (AKA: Congestive Heart Failure, "CHF")can cause symptoms of peripheral edema in distal lower extremities (i.e. swollen lower legs --> shins to ankles, and feet) along with phlebitis. The danger is that phlebitis may progress to or may even already be a DVT (deep vein thrombosis, a "blood clot"). When one has a DVT an issue of patient safety & concern is that the blood clot may break off and travel to other areas of the body (i.e. lung --> a pulmonary embolism; head or corotid arteries in neck --> stroke; or to the heart --> heart attack, or "MI"). Another concern is that the patient may have an irregular heart rhythm with out knowing it -- Atrial fibrillation -- that lacks the contration of the heart ventricles, allowing blood to pool in this space in the heart and clot. Hence, these clots can break free and travel to other areas of the body causing sometimes life threatening problems. When "Afib" is less than 100 beats per minute it rarely gives the person warning that something is wrong other than vague & dismisable symptoms (fatigue, activity intolerance, shortness of breath, and other symptoms already listed above). However, when it is rapid, signs & symptoms include heart palpitations, and a fluttering feeling in chest, with or without feeling of dizziness and fainting depending on the heart rate. It is worth getting checked out by a physician just to be safe. They may perform a number of diagnostic tests to determine if further treatment is required. Knowledge is power; being a well educated consumer of your health care is always beneficial. Good luck!