What signs/symptoms would help distinguise if a pt. is experiencing pneumonia v.congestive heart failure?

Rapid pulse, elevated b/p, edema, pale lips and dusky nails along w/fever. Could this be pneumonia rather than congestive heart failure?

Yes. But the chest xray should show clear differences in the type of congestion. Fever sounds a little more like pneumonia, but I'd go with what the doctors say. The patient IS being treated, I hope?!

Hmm I think you are in quite a delima. First, lets review the symptoms of Pneumonia.... High fever, coughing, hard to stop, cant get breath allot cause of congestion....Poor appetite, nothing sounds good, Because of fever, should be pushing fluids. An over abundance of food is not important at this time.
Not sure ,but don't think pneumonia would effect the fingernails so rule that one out. Elevated BP could be caused by pain and discomfort from the congested chest. And, I cant swear to this one but I am pretty sure that the feet swelling is not a direct cause from pneumonia.

Ok, having said that..I have an uncle who is in congestive heart failure. He has the swelling ankles and feed. The edema , don't know about his lips or nails but imagine that's probably prettty close. And he sounds like hes got a very congested chest. And whenever he over does an activity, which waking across the room would qualify...this pulse rases and him BP goes way up.

Well, I dont know if this helped any but gave it a shot when I saw you had no responces to this crucial question.. Good Luck, Lin

Not pneumonia, its chf. Pneumonia you have a high fever, weakness, it doesn't cause elevated b/p or edema, chf does.

The diagnosis usually is confirmed on basis of physical examination, patient history, and various tests to detect abnormal function of the left ventricle and/or heart valves e.g immediate EKG, X ray chest will show you a pneumonic patch, enlarged heart, or even a pulmonary edema etc.
Echocardiogram of cardiac status.
Ultrasonically of the lungs.
Differential diagnosis can thus be made, but both of them are acute emergencies, so you have to be on your toes.