Can you have heart failure without shortness of breath?

sure.. it is often called sudden cardiac arrest.. sudden death.. `

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you should know that shortness of breaths can present at all time or some of the time.. some early signs of a heart failure can present with shortness of breaths when they walk short distances (like from the bed to the bathroom).. and some people present with shortness of breaths when they lay flat on the bed - such people would sleep with 3-5 stacks of pillows  behind them or sleep sitting on a chair - not the bed..`

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many people with congestive heart failure maybe breathing normally at normal rate but soon changes when they stand up or when they lay flat on the bed with one pillow..

Of course.